Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced last night it was to start a service between Aberdeen and Norwegian capital, Oslo, in the new year.
The moves comes just weeks after Granite City-based carrier Bmi Regional started operating the route.
SAS, which already flies from the Granite City to Copenhagen in Denmark and both Bergen and Stavanger in Norway, will start its new service three days a week from March 31.
Hans Dyhrfort, SAS regional general manager for western Europe, said links to the north-east were a key area of development for the Stockholm-based carrier and its global network.
He added: “By launching this new direct route to Oslo, SAS aims to strengthen the business and commercial links between north Scotland and Scandinavia.
“We are pleased to offer passengers the choice and flexibility to fly direct from Aberdeen to Oslo and onwards to many other destinations in Norway and the Nordic region”.
Aberdeen International Airport managing director Carol Benzie said: “I am pleased to see that the popularity of this route is such that SAS is in a position to unveil yet another direct service from Aberdeen.
“It is a clear demonstration of the airline listening to their customers and reacting to demand.
“The popularity of the Oslo route for tourists visiting the north-east, for tourism into Norway’s capital and the obvious business connections mean I am confident that this will be a success, and we wish them luck with the service.”
Bmi Regional started flying between the Granite City and Oslo at the end of October, and recently announced it was increasing frequency on the route.
A spokesman for Bmi Regional said last night: “The route had been vacant for almost four years.
“We carried out a thorough assessment of the market and identified significant demand for direct flights.”
The new SAS flights will leave Aberdeen at 11.20am on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 12.35pm on Fridays. Departures from Oslo will leave Norway at 10.15am on Mondays and Wednesdays and at 11.30am on Fridays.
Other new services announced by SAS last night included Edinburgh-Oslo and Edinburgh-Stavanger summer services, and Leeds Bradford-Copenhagen.
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