Bump! Some news items from Glasgow Airport over the curse of 2013. All taken from
http://www.airglasgow.comEmirates report record breaking passenger numbers on Glasgow-Dubai route19 September 2013Emirates Airlines has continued to break new passenger records, with August passenger
numbers on the airlines Glasgow-Dubai route at their highest in the routes history. For the
first time more than 40,000 passengers flew on the hugely successful Glasgow-Dubai route
in a single month.
The airline carried 40,362 passengers between the two cities in August, an increase of 35
per cent compared to August 2012, bringing an average load factor of 90.4 per cent.
Emirates launched its second daily service between Glasgow and Dubai in June 2012 using a
three-class Boeing 777-300. For both of these flights to be reporting load factors of over 90
per cent, just one year after the second flight commenced operating is nothing short of
incredible and proves the strength of the high-yielding Glasgow market.
The second daily flight was initially operated by an Airbus A340 but this has already been
upgraded to the much larger Boeing 777-300, the same aircraft which operates the
afternoon flight.
Last month it was revealed Emirates had planned to temporarily cancel the second-daily flight
to Dubai for June and July 2014 due to extensive runway work being carried out at Dubai airport. Due to the Glasgow route’s continued success and growth, Emirates has since revised this and the second daily service will continue to operate as normal, despite the capacity restrictions at Dubai Airport.
Richard Jewsbury, Emirates’ senior vice president for commercial operations in Europe, said: “No-one can be in any doubt that growth remains a key objective for Emirates in Glasgow.”
“We can now connect even more Scottish passengers to our extensive route network, without them having to travel via London or other European airports.”
Emirates have been unveiled as an Official Partner of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and have also acquired the naming rights to the city’s newest sporting venue, which is now known as the Emirates Arena.
Emirates flights from Glasgow to Dubai and beyond can be booked online now at emirates.com.
Icelandair to increase flights between Glasgow and Reykjavik04 September 2013One of Glasgow Airport’s longest serving airlines has responded to an increase in demand by announcing it will increase seat capacity from the airport by 25% by adding an additional weekly flight from April 2014.
Icelandair will add a fifth weekly flight to its popular Glasgow to Reykjavik service commencing Monday 07 April 2014. In doing so, the airline will strengthen Glasgow’s connections to Iceland and Icelandair’s extensive list of North American destinations.
It will be the second consecutive year the airline has added capacity at Glasgow Airport and the fifth weekly flight will increase Icelandair’s seat capacity from Glasgow by an extra 15,000 seats per year.
The US and Canada are Glasgow’s second and third largest international markets. Collectively, they account for almost 100,000 visitors to the city each year; generating around £37 million for the city’s economy.
Events such as the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and Homecoming Scotland are expected to provide a further boost to what is already a popular service, particularly with the North American market.
Hjorvar Saeberg Hognason, Icelandair general manager UK & Ireland, said: “Our Glasgow route has always performed well, which is no surprise when you consider the size of the catchment area and breadth of industry. We are very excited about 2014 and the extra capacity will allow us to offer even more seamless connections to our growing number of destinations in North America. It will also make it easier for people to travel from Glasgow to Iceland, which was recently voted the world’s friendliest country by the World Economic Forum.
“With the introduction of both Edmonton and Vancouver to our network, we expect strong demand from both business and leisure travellers looking to travel to Canada. The Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup will also prove a huge draw for our North American customers.”
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “Icelandair has been serving Scotland since the 1940s, providing important links to the United States and Canada via Reykjavik. The decision to enhance this historic route is a welcome one as not only does it demonstrate the airline’s commitment to the Scottish market, it further strengthens Glasgow’s extensive route network.
“With a series of world class events, including the Commonwealth Games, 2014 promises to be an exciting year. Icelandair’s expansion is no coincidence and it will ensure even more people from Iceland and beyond, can come and enjoy the best of Scotland.”
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB), added: “The addition of a fifth weekly flight between Reykjavik and Glasgow is a reflection of the popularity of Icelandair’s service and is a major boost for the city ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
“It presents us with even greater scope to grow short-break leisure tourism from Iceland and it opens the door to new opportunities within the US and Canada, both of which are key markets for Glasgow.
“Specifically, over the coming months GCMB will be working closely with Icelandair and Glasgow Airport to implement joint marketing campaigns in Boston and Halifax aimed at highlighting the ease of access to Glasgow and Scotland for visitors from the eastern seaboard and North America.”
Icelandair flights from Glasgow to Reykjavik and beyond can be booked online at icelandair.co.uk.
Britain's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes-off from Glasgow Airport08 July 2013Britain’s first ever flight on the brand-new state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft took off from Glasgow Airport this morning, bound for Mexico.
Thomson Airways are the first UK airline to fly new Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the airline chose its Glasgow base as the venue for the landmark and historical flight.
Thomson Airways flight TOM518 departed Glasgow Airport at 0940 with 291 passengers onboard. The occasion was celebrated in true Scottish style as passengers were welcomed to the boarding gate with bagpipers and Highland dancers.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is set to revolutionise air travel and leave passengers more relaxed and refreshed than ever before, with comfort and wellbeing features onboard reducing the effects of jet-lag. It can also fly much further distances than similar-sized aircraft and is more environmentally friendly, using 20% less fuel.
Thomson Airways will fly the state-of-the-art aircraft from Glasgow Airport on long haul routes to Orlando, Florida and Cancun, Mexico, and will add Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to its service from summer 2014. The aircraft will also fly from London Gatwick and Manchester airport.
Amanda McMillan, Managing Director of Glasgow Airport, said: "To be the first airport in Britain to welcome the Dreamliner is a tremendous honour and something we’re extremely proud of.
"Not only does the new state-of-the-art aircraft offer passengers a unique flying experience, it will open up new possibilities for the long haul market from Glasgow Airport and we are looking forward to working with Thomson Airways to ensure the Dreamliner realises its full potential."
Chris Browne, Managing Director of Thomson Airways comments: "After much anticipation we are delighted to welcome the 787 Dreamliner to Glasgow. This is a key milestone for the company and as the first airline in the UK to take delivery we hope our customers will enjoy the unique experience of this revolutionary aircraft.
"The introduction of the Dreamliner is a major milestone in our journey of modernising the holiday experience. Customers travelling from Glasgow will be amazed at the unique look, feel and service - all of which will ensure the Thomson holiday experience starts as soon as they step on board this fabulous new aircraft.
"The extended flying range of the Dreamliner also unlocks a host of new and exciting holiday options for our customers, increasing the range of long haul destinations available with Thomson Airways, from three UK airports this summer.”
Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon said: "It is exciting to see the 787 Dreamliner make its first flight from Scotland and I am sure that all of those on board will have the best start to their holiday.
"We want to see more direct long haul flights from Glasgow Airport and having this state of the art aircraft depart from Glasgow is very encouraging.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan added: "Glasgow Airport has a proud history of pioneering aviation developments and this is another important milestone.
"The first flight of the Dreamliner in Britain is a notable event in itself and, in the longer term, will boost travel options for passengers and strengthen the economic impact of Glasgow Airport in the regional and national economy. This is very positive news."
Thomson Airways flights from Glasgow Airport to 32 worldwide destinations including Cancun, Orlando and Punta Cana can be booked online now at thomson.co.uk.
Virgin Atlantic announce Glasgow expansion with 14,000 more seats21 May 2013Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to increase its capacity by more than one third on its popular Glasgow to Orlando route.
More than 14,000 additional seats will be available on the route after Virgin Atlantic confirmed it will deploy a Boeing 747 aircraft for the duration of its 2014 programme.
The move means that up to 54,600 passengers will be able to travel direct from Glasgow to the Florida in 2014, compared to 40,420 this year.
The 455 seat Boeing 747 will replace the 314 seat Airbus A330 for 60 return flights between April and October. In previous years the Boeing 747 had only been used during the peak months of June and July when Scottish schools were on holiday.
The Boeing 747 aircraft features the airline’s award winning Upper Class cabin, in addition to Premium Economy and Economy which were both available on the Airbus aircraft.
Edmond Rose, Virgin Atlantic’s director of airline planning, commented: “Since we launched our Glasgow services six years ago we have seen a steady increase in demand and we are delighted to bring our iconic Boeing 747s on to the route for the full summer season.
“Glasgow is an extremely important market for Virgin Atlantic and we are working really closely with the team at Glasgow airport as we continue to grow demand for Virgin Atlantic’s flights from Scotland.”
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, added: “Our partnership with Virgin Atlantic has been a huge success story. Since the Florida flights began in 2007 passenger numbers have grown every year, and Virgin Atlantic has continued adding extra capacity to accommodate the increasing number of passengers travelling to Florida.
“News that Virgin Atlantic is increasing capacity for 2014 by more than a third is a fantastic boost for Glasgow Airport and Scotland. The Boeing 747 is an iconic aircraft and we are delighted it will carry thousands more passengers direct to Florida next year.”
Virgin Atlantic flights from Glasgow to Orlando can be booked online now at virgin-atlantic.com.
Jet2 announce three new routes from Glasgow Airport14 May 2013Jet2 has further grown its route network from Glasgow Airport with the announcement of thee exciting new destinations for summer 2014.
The airline has added new routes to the Canarian Island of Fuerteventura, the Spanish city of Reus and to the Greek Island of Zante for summer 2014. The announcement means Jet2 has nearly trebled the number of destinations it serves from Glasgow Airport since commencing operations just two years ago.
Along with its sister company, Jet2 Holidays, Jet2 now offers Scottish travellers an unrivalled choice of destinations in Greece and Spain including three of the most popular Greek islands and 12 Spanish hotspots including the Canaries and the Balearics.
Weekly flights to Fuerteventura will commence on 04 April 2014 and will operate every Friday. Flights to Reus will commence on 26 May 2014 and are available every Monday and Thursday while new flights to Zante will take-off on 02 July 2014 and will operate every Wednesday.
Steve Heapy, Chief Executive Officer of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Greece and Spain continue to be very popular with our Scottish customers, so we are committed to expanding our flights and holidays to these countries to give people the best possible choice.
"Zante and Reus are fantastic destinations which will appeal to all styles and budgets, whether you want a relaxing beach break, fun trip in the sun or cultural escape.
“The launch of three new routes in the past month alone show how committed we are to further expanding our operations at Glasgow Airport. It has grown to become a very significant base for us and we look forward to further building on our success to give our Scottish customers the best possible choice of great value flights and holidays.”
Francois Bourienne, Commercial Director of Glasgow Airport, said: “This is further good news from Jet2 which has yet again demonstrated its commitment to Glasgow Airport.
"The airline has continually expanded its route network since its arrival over two years ago and the addition of Fuerteventura, Reus and Zante will provide customers with even greater choice next summer.”
Jet2 holidays and flights to Fuerteventura, Reus and Zante can be booked online now at jet2holidays.com and jet2.com.
Flybe launch new flights from Glasgow Airport to Shannon, Ireland08 May 2013Flybe has launched its latest new route from Glasgow Airport, this time to Shannon in Western Ireland.
The new flights will operate three times per week with flights available every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The schedule enables mid-week travel for business passengers and is also perfect for weekend breaks in both Ireland and Glasgow.
Andrew Strong, Flybe’s UK managing director said: “We are pleased to provide this brand new route that reflects the established Celtic connections between Glasgow and Shannon which is reflected by strong business, tourism and leisure links.
“We expect the passenger numbers generated on this route to contribute further to the growth of local business and tourism economies on both sides of the Irish Sea.”
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “With such close links between the two counties, the Irish market is very important for us.
“Flybe has always been quick to identify new destinations out of Glasgow Airport and with the convenient flight times available on this route, we are confident it will be a success.”
Tourism Ireland Head of Great Britain, Vanessa Markey, also warmly welcomed the new route: “Tourism Ireland has a strong and comprehensive promotional programme under way right now, which includes a major focus on The Gathering Ireland 2013.
“We extend an invitation to the many people in Glasgow who have ancestral links with Ireland to ‘come home’ this year.”
Flybe flights between Glasgow and Shannon can be booked online now at flybe.com.
Lufthansa's new route from Glasgow Airport to Dusseldorf takes-off08 March 2013Lufthansa inaugural Glasgow to Düsseldorf service has taken to the skies with representatives from the Glasgow businesses who aim to promote greater ties between the two cities.
A cross section of businesses joined the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Scottish Development International (SDI) and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) on the Lufthansa flight and will attend a series of engagements in Düsseldorf, which is located in the heart of the prosperous Rhine-Ruhr region.
Germany represents the largest international market for Glasgow with more than 71,000 trips made each year by German visitors who generate more than £19 million for the city’s economy.
The new service will provide the perfect opportunity to strengthen links between Glasgow and Düsseldorf, both of which are economic powerhouses in their own countries.
Lufthansa will operate a daily service between Glasgow and Dusseldorf, providing Scotland with its only direct link to the German city. The launch of the route also marks the return of the extensive Lufthansa network to Glasgow, with onward flights available from Dusseldorf to over 60 destinations including Athens, Frankfurt and Istanbul.
Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “Düsseldorf is at the centre of the Ruhr Valley, where so much of Germany’s engineering industry is based, and Germany is an important market for Glasgow. We’re pleased to be taking a delegation of business people from the city there to explore trading opportunities. This Lufthansa service is the latest new route won by the Glasgow Airport management team, and we should all recognise their remarkable success, especially in these tough times.”
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “Lufthansa’s new route between Düsseldorf and Glasgow is a major boost for the city and the wider West of Scotland economy. It provides a direct, daily flight to one of Europe’s wealthiest regions and there will undoubtedly be strong demand for this service from within the business community.
“However, it also has huge potential to deliver significant in-bound leisure tourism from Germany, which is our largest international market.
“Additionally, increased access is a key driver in attracting more delegates to the conferences that meet in Glasgow and this vastly improves the city’s global competiveness by providing passengers with greater worldwide connectivity through the Lufthansa network.
“Landing this new service has been the result of strong partnership working between Glasgow Airport, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, the German Consulate in Glasgow, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and VisitScotland. Even in these tough times, Glasgow is constantly striving to improve its air links and we are looking forward to working with Lufthansa to ensure the success of this route.”
Derek Mackay MSP, said: “The introduction of Lufthansa’s Düsseldorf service is fantastic news for Glasgow Airport and for everyone in Scotland. With Glasgow Airport managing to add this service to their route network it will hopefully attract other companies to investigate the possibility of bringing their business to the area.
“Glasgow Airport has recently proven its ambition to provide the best flights and services for its passengers, with the announcement last year of its second daily route to Dubai and also the more recent announcement of the £17 million investment to refurbish the airport in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“With Düsseldorf being a massive economic player amongst the rest of the major cities around the world, this is great news for the business community within Glasgow and further afield. Furthermore, if you add the fact that Scotland was recently voted as the top tourist destination this year in a CNN poll and the addition of this service it will no doubt increase tourism from Germany to Glasgow and around Scotland.”
Lufthansa’s direct flights to Düsseldorf can be booked online now at lufthansa.com.
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