A new air route between Edinburgh and Helsinki in Finland has been launched.

Finnair celebrated its inaugural service connecting the two cities with a water cannon salute and Scottish bagpiper welcoming the aircraft when it landed in Edinburgh on Monday.

The airline said the journey - which takes less than three hours - will allow passengers from Scotland to travel onwards to Asia, including Hong Kong and Beijing with just one transfer via the Finnish capital.

The service will be available three times a week for the majority of the year and four times a week during the summer months.

Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said the route was "fantastic news".

"I congratulate Finnair for recognising the growing international demand for direct links to Edinburgh and this move shows that they have similar aspirations for growth as we do," he added.