This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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UK airport operators welcomed to Edinburgh
04/11/2003
The Executive is actively attracting
more flights to Scotland to help boost the country's
overall economy and tourism industry.
That's the message from Transport
Minister Nicol Stephen, who delivered the keynote speech at
the Airport Operators' Association conference at the EICC
in Edinburgh.
Mr Stephen said that Scotland's
airports had responded well to the recent challenges facing
the aviation industry with a 50 percent rise in passenger
numbers over the past eight years.
Mr Stephen said:
"The Executive has invested heavily in
runways, new terminals and other airport infrastructure to
help improve services. We are determined to improve
Scotland's air connections in order to enhance business
opportunities and our tourism industry. We are also
investing in major new rail links to both Glasgow and
Edinburgh Airport.
"The Executive's Route Development
Fund is helping to attract new services which maximise the
economic benefits for Scotland. Our route development
strategy is a success with offers being made to a total of
15 new routes since March this year."
"The potential for future growth in
passenger numbers and flight destinations is promising. But
it is vital we manage this growth responsibly.
"We are contributing to the UK
Government's Air Transport White Paper to help ensure
long-term policies enhance the industry's economic and
social benefits while also managing of the industry's
future growth in a sustainable way that responds to
environmental challenges."
The Airport Operators' Association
represents all the UK's major international and regional
airports, as well as many of the country's smaller
independent airports. The AOA has a membership of 72
airports. The AOA also has around 150 Associate Members
across all sectors of the aviation industry. It is the main
body with whom government and others consult on sector-wide
policy issues. The AOA annual conference is attended by
around 180 delegates at senior level from the airport
sector as well as other leading members of the aviation
industry.
The Route Development Fund is provided
through the recent Scottish budget resources with £5
million from the budget, £500,000 from the Integrated
Transport Fund, £1 million from Scottish Enterprise and
£300,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Scottish
Enterprise administers the main fund on the Executive's
behalf.
The fund is operated in partnership
with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and VisitScotland. It
supports new air links where airlines can demonstrate the
services will have a direct economic benefit to Scotland.
Assistance from the fund has been offered to a total of 15
new routes since March this year.