Glasgow airport has received a major boost when Emirates announced plans to introduce a second daily non-stop flight to Dubai from 1st June.
The move is a result of continued growth in demand for Emirates service between Glasgow and Dubai.
Emirates says it will generate up to 12 new direct jobs and indirectly support many others with its contracted suppliers, as well as generating millions in visitor revenue, contributing to the overall Scottish economy.
Since it started in 2004, the Dubai-based international airlines Glasgow service has carried more than 1.7 million passengers and over 46 million kilos of cargo to and from the Middle East and beyond.
The additional flight, coupled with an aircraft upgrade on the existing service, will increase Emirates capacity to and from Glasgow by 47%, providing an extra 398 seats per day (199 each way).
It will also see the introduction of a first class cabin on both daily services.
In addition, it will provide an extra 13 tonnes of daily cargo capacity – a 59% increase on existing volumes.
Laurie Berryman, Emirates Vice President UK & Ireland, said:
“This announcement illustrates our commitment to Scotland and to our wider UK route network in difficult economic times. Our Glasgow route has been a real success story, and we are extremely confident that there is the demand for additional services flying east to Dubai and onward to our global network of over 115 destinations. The service brings real benefits to Scotland’s economy and its international competitiveness. The introduction of a first class cabin on both daily flights also means greater choice for passengers,and increased cargo capacity means more export business opportunities for cargo shippers in Scotland”
Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader ofGlasgow City Council and chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said this new flight would be a significant boost to Glasgow’s economy, connectivity and competitiveness.