This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New Glasgow-Prague air route
08/07/2004
A new direct air link between Glasgow and Prague is to
be supported by the Executive's Route Development Fund.
Czech Airlines (CSA) will operate flights from Glasgow
to Prague starting on October 31 operating a Boeing 737-500
series aircraft.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"The Executive, through its Route Development Fund, is
determined to increase the number of direct travel
opportunities available to attract inbound business and
tourism.
"Today's announcement is good news for the Glasgow and
will be welcomed by both the business community in the West
of Scotland and Scotland's tourism industry. Direct flights
from Scotland mean we can seize on new opportunities and
speed up travel times to key destinations."
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, who has held recent
discussions with CSA, said a direct link to the Czech
Republic would open up new tourism and business
opportunities for those in Glasgow and the West.
"When I visited Czech Airlines in Prague in May it was
clear that they were keen to establish a new route to
Glasgow. I am pleased that we have been able to close the
deal and provide them with the necessary support.
"This route provides a very good way for Scottish
travellers to access the Czech Republic and 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. A scheduled service will be warmly welcomed by the
business community in particular who are seeing increasing
opportunities in the new accession countries."
Mary McLaughlin, Director of Transport at Scottish
Enterprise, which manages the Route Development Fund on
behalf of the Scottish Executive, said:
"The success of Czech Airline's service to Prague from
Edinburgh in the short time that it has been operational,
highlights the demand for services to the heart of Europe.
In business terms it is a key hub offering onward travel to
many destinations across eastern Europe, especially the
accession countries."
Philip Riddle, Chief Executive of VisitScotland,
said:
"This new service is hugely welcome, adding as it will
to the increasing number of direct access flights now
coming into Scotland every day. A new daily, year-round
flight from Prague will provide us with huge opportunities
to capitalise on the fast growing Eastern European market.
"Scotland's increasingly lucrative city break and
business tourism market will also benefit from this new
service, with hopefully more and more visitors from Prague
and across the Czech Republic taking advantage of this new
route to Scotland."
The Route Development Fund is provided through the 2002
Scottish Budget with £5.5 million from the Executive, £1
million from Scottish Enterprise and £300,000 from
Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The Route Development Fund 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. Twenty two offers of support have been
made to date. The exact amount from the fund given to the
airline cannot be disclosed due to reasons of commercial
confidentiality.