This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister in talks with Czech Airlines
17/05/2004
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace today flew out to
Prague where he will hold talks with Czech Airlines (CSA)
about increasing the number of direct routes between the
Czech Republic and Scotland.
Mr Wallace will be met at Prague Airport by CSA's Vice
President, Jiri Pos. The Minister will discuss with Mr Pos
the airline's plans for the future and the possibility of
establishing a new route between Prague and Glasgow.
Speaking prior to his departure Jim Wallace said:
"The direct route I am using today between Edinburgh and
Prague has been a tremendous success. In the first year of
operation flights have been running at over 80 per cent
capacity. This recently led CSA to double the number of
flights between the two cities.
"The Prague-Edinburgh route has been good news for
business travellers, tourists, the airline and the two
countries whose capitals have been linked. It has also
provides a very good way for Scottish travellers to access
other countries in Eastern Europe. Figures indicate that 13
per cent of flyers continue on from Prague to other
destinations such as Ljubljana, Budapest and Bratislava in
the new accession states.
"We want to build on this success. I want to see CSA
expanding the number of routes they have into Scotland.
Glasgow is an obvious choice and I know that CSA have
expressed an interest in coming to Glasgow. I will impress
upon Mr Pos that a Glasgow route would be a good move for
the airline. I'm sure they are well aware of what Glasgow
has to offer as a city but I will take this chance to
remind them.
"A Glasgow-Prague route would bring real benefits for
travellers in the West of Scotland. A scheduled air route
to Prague would provide a direct link with the Czech
Republic but it would also provide a helpful gateway to the
rest of the Eastern Europe. A scheduled service would be
warmly welcomed by the business community in particular who
are seeing increasing opportunities in the new accession
countries.
"Our Route Development Fund is there to help increase
the number of air routes from Scotland. It has been very
successful but we need to keep looking for more global
connections from Scotland. I would like to support a new
Prague route from Glasgow if it meets the RDF criteria. It
would be a great way to build on the recent launch of the
Glasgow-Dubai connection."
The Route Development Fund has offered support to 20 new
routes since it was established in November 2002. The fund
is operated in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, who
administers the fund on the Executive's behalf.
The exact amount from the fund given to the airline
cannot be disclosed due to reasons of commercial
confidentiality. The fund has focussed on European
destinations serving in-bound tourism and business markets.
It supports new air links where airlines can demonstrate
the services will have a direct economic benefit to
Scotland. The flights must involve regularly scheduled
services and must not undermine existing flights.