31 Jan 2002
Scotland’s direct air links to Europe will take off thanks to a new daily direct flight between Scotland and Norway, Minister of State for Scotland George Foulkes said today.
Speaking on the day that Ryanair launched a new service from Glasgow Prestwick to Oslo (Torp) airport, Mr Foulkes said:
"The announcement of this service is great news for business travellers and holidaymakers in Scotland looking to make a quick hop over to Scandinavia. Travellers from central Scotland can now make the flight from Scotland to Norway and vice versa directly, whereas before they would have had to make a journey via London Heathrow. Scotland has significant business links with Norway not least through our shared expertise in the oil and gas sectors. With the expected 40,000 passengers who will use the service in its first year it’s also great news for Scotland’s tourism and business sectors.
"This service will make Oslo (Torp) the fifth direct scheduled international service from Glasgow Prestwick. This is further good news for Prestwick airport where passenger numbers for December are up 14,566 on the same time last year,"
"As well as these positive figures from Prestwick, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports all report a healthy increase in passenger traffic on the same time last year. I am pleased that Scotland’s airports seem to be bucking the recent global downward trend in air passenger traffic numbers.
"The government is committed to promoting flights to and from Scotland. There are opportunities in Scotland for growth and expansion, and today’s announcement shows the commitment of the aviation sector to raising the profile of Scotland’s place on the international air travel map. I hope that other airlines will be encouraged to follow the lead and that the business sector and travelling public will make the most of the opportunities this new service presents them with."
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS
1 The Secretary of State for Scotland, Helen Liddell, hosted an aviation summit on 3 December in Edinburgh. Representatives from the airlines, the airport operators, business representatives, tourism and development agencies met to discuss the importance of Scotland’s existing air links and the scope for developing news routes and opportunities in the aviation sector.
2. Scotland’s airports at present have international direct scheduled flights to 18 destinations in 12 countries with a further 59 international destinations in 18 countries served by indirect flights (with one stop). Further details can be obtained from BAA plc www.baa.co.uk. and from Glasgow Prestwick airport www.gpia.co.uk
3. The regulation of civil aviation and strategic direction of aviation policy are reserved matters under the 1998 Scotland Act.
4. Oslo Torp airport, is situated c100km to the south of Oslo city centre and is linked to the city by regular coach services.