Inverness also has links to Gatwick and Luton

Councillors will be asked to press the Scottish Government to "carefully examine" how it can protect air services to Heathrow and Gatwick.

The move follows an airline's decision to terminate its daily return service between Inverness and Heathrow because of a lack of bookings.

The call is contained in a report to Thursday's council transport committee.

The airline bmi said flights on the Inverness-Heathrow route, which was launched in March 2004, would end on 29 March.

Following the announcement, Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said he would seek a meeting with the airline to urge a rethink on the move.