FAROESE flag carrier Atlantic Airways’ will launch a twice-weekly scheduled service from Edinburgh to the Faroe Islands next spring, the airline announced today.

The new service forms part of the airline’s new strategy, which focuses on more frequent links to the islands’ closest neighbours.

Services will operate from Edinburgh on Friday mornings and Monday evenings, with return flights on the same days, commencing March 30, 2015.

Tickets are on sale now.

Atlantic Airways has previously operated a short summer season of flights from Edinburgh, but today’s announcement marks a bigger commitment to the Scottish capital.

The airline’s new strategy had already committed it to increasing its services from the Atlantic archipelago to neighbours Iceland and Norway, alongside its core routes to Denmark and the addition of a Scottish route marks the final piece of the jigsaw.

Fares to the islands will start at £121.76, including taxes, charges and fees, for a one-way ticket from Edinburgh, booked online.

Flights will be operated by a 144-seat Airbus A319 and will depart Edinburgh at 1925 Mondays, arriving in the Faroe Islands at 2050 and at 1010 Fridays, arriving in the Faroe Islands at 1135. Return flights depart at 1715 on Mondays, arriving Edinburgh at 1840 and at 0800 Fridays, arriving in Edinburgh at 0925.

The 18 Faroe Islands make up one of Europe’s most unusual and dramatic destinations, with breath-taking scenery, great walking, and fantastic birdlife. Yet getting around is easy, with the islands connected by modern tunnels, bridges or fast ferries. Faroese culture is distinctive and colourful.

Passengers from Edinburgh will land at Vágar Airport, built during World War II by British military personnel, many of them Scottish, who were stationed on the islands as part of the UK’s “friendly occupation”.

Jørgen Holme, Chief Executive at Atlantic Airways said: " Atlantic Airways looks forward to offering its customers a better service to our neighbours in the North Atlantic. Our NORTH strategy will support the potential growth for the commercial and industrial sector in the Faroe Islands.

“But this improved route network will also benefit private travellers and tourists who want to visit the our islands.”

“We are close to the UK at a time when people are looking for new and exciting experiences that are perhaps closer to home. We hope many more people from the UK will visit our beautiful islands in 2015 and learn what makes ours a very special destination.

Edinburgh was selected as the Scottish destination for the NORTH project after alternatives, including Aberdeen, were evaluated.

“Among other things, we were persuaded by the opportunities for onward connections at Edinburgh, particularly to London, and by the airport’s ability to service a very much larger catchment area,” said Jørgen Holme.