The Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group (SCSTG) has welcomed bmi’s new air service between Oslo and Aberdeen. The service, which will start operating on Monday 28 October, is the first direct flight between the two cities.

The new scheduled link comes just weeks after bmi launched direct flights between Aberdeen and Kristiansund on Norway’s west coast.

The new service will bring Scotland’s plethora of country sports within reach of a large number of potential customers from Norway, which has a long culture of country sports participation.

The flights will run daily from Monday to Friday and on Sundays with the timings such that Norwegian customers will easily be able to spend a week or a weekend in Scotland. Prices start from £99 one way and £175 return.

Fergus Ewing, Scotland’s Ministry for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, has stated: “This new air route with Norway will help build business links between oil services companies in both countries and also provides a boost for tourism in the north-east.”

SCSTG Project Coordinator, Victoria Brooks, added: “Since forming in 2003, the SCSTG has worked hard to encourage more international visitors to Scotland. We are delighted with the bmi’s news and hope that the short, 1 hour and 40 minute flight will encourage even more Norwegians to visit Scotland for stalking, fishing and shooting trips.”