This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New airlink between Glasgow and Boston
14/08/2006
The Executive's Route Development Fund has helped secure a new daily service between Glasgow and Boston, it was announced today.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"This new service between Glasgow and Boston is fantastic news for Scotland. It will open up new opportunities for Scottish businesses and bring great benefits for Scottish tourism.
"Boston is one of the most important and influential cities in America, and the announcement today gives us a welcome boost.
"The Route Development Fund has made a real difference for business travellers and tourists in Scotland over the past four years.
"This announcement is an example of just how successful the fund can be. I am positive it will continue to encourage airlines to expand in Scotland, and further increase the number of direct air services to the rest of the UK, Europe and the world."
Mary McLaughlin, Director of Transport at Scottish Enterprise which co-funds and manages the Route Development Fund on behalf of the Executive, said:
"Scotland's business and economic links with Boston and its strong life sciences and financial communities in particular, are well established.
"Scottish Development International's US operations is based in the city and SDI also provides a business incubator facility there for Scottish businesses. This latest direct service to Boston is therefore enormously valuable and an important addition to the direct services between Scotland and the United States."
Flyglobespan intends to introduce a daily Glasgow to Boston service commencing May 2007. It is intended to operate this service daily during the summer with frequency reducing to three rotations per week during the winter.
The services will be operated on a Boeing 767-300ER, Boeing 757-200ER or a Boeing 737-800 and it is intended to offer business and economy seating. The capacity on the largest of these aircraft, the Boeing 767-300ER is 264.
The RDF is provided through the Scottish Budget with £14.4 million funding over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08.
The RDF 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. The exact amount from the fund given to the airline cannot be disclosed due to reasons of commercial confidentiality.
Since it was introduced in November 2002, the Route Development Fund has brought aound £100 million of economic benefit to the Scottish economy.
There are now over 30 routes currently operating which are supported by the RDF, and last year fund-supported routes carried about 1.4 million passengers.