Loganair and Emirates have signed a major interline agreement which opens up the Dubai carrier’s global destination network to Loganair’s passengers.

The partnership enables customers from Scotland’s Highlands and Islands to travel via Glasgow and Edinburgh with their luggage on one ticket to Emirates network of 155 destinations in more than 80 countries around the world.

Passengers have the added advantages of being protected should their connecting flights be disrupted while also saving on an APD charge of £78.

The agreement will see some of Scotland’s smallest and most remote airports displayed on Emirate’s online booking system between many of the world’s biggest cities.

It is the latest addition to Loganair’s “Better Connected” programme, which provides the Scottish airline’s key destinations with a wide range of easy to access international connections.

Kay Ryan, Loganair’s commercial director said “Emirates is a leader in international air travel and we’re thrilled to welcome them into our ‘Better Connected’ programme. This will open up an extensive range of airlinks to passengers via Edinburgh and Glasgow, so will be of real benefit to not only our Highlands and Islands customers, but also regions like Norwich and Dundee.

Carriers including Turkish Airlines, Air France, Dutch giants KLM, Emirates and Thomas Cook Airlines have already signed up to the ‘Better Connected’ initiative.

Loganair passengers can now travel with these airlines on a through-ticket where flights connect at Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverness, Manchester and Norwich.