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Aberdeen International Airport has received a welcome boost after Icelandair announced a new year-round service between the city and Reykjavik.

Flights will begin in March next year and operate four times a week.

Tickets are due to go on sale on 24 August.

The new route, which will be operated on behalf of Icelandair by Air Iceland, will become the Icelandic carrier's second in Scotland and sixth in the UK.

Icelandair operates UK flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham, all of which connect into the airline's network to North America.

Aberdeen Airport managing director Carol Benzie said: "We're thrilled to welcome Icelandair to Aberdeen, our first direct flight to Iceland.

"The decision to commence the service from the north east is fantastic news for both leisure and business travellers wanting to reach Reykjavik, and of course the extensive number of onward connections to the US and Canada now available."

Aberdeen Airport has been hit hard this year by cost-cutting measures by oil and gas companies.

In July, domestic traffic was down by 5.9%, while international passenger figures showed an increase of 1.8% on last year.

Helicopter traffic remained below 2014 levels, and was down by 14.8% for the month.