This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New airlink between Edinburgh and Atlanta
18/10/2005
The Executive's Route Development Fund has helped secure a new daily air service between Edinburgh and Atlanta in the United States to be run by Delta Airlines from next May.
The new service will be able to carry 48 business passengers and 148 economy passengers and will offer connections to 178 US domestic destinations and 58 international destinations.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"This is good news for Scotland. All year round air links between Edinburgh and Atlanta will provide better business opportunities between Scotland and the United States.
"Atlanta as the airline's hub airport will provide a gateway to Scotland for travellers from many more locations in the United States, Central America and South America.
"Our Route Development Fund is delivering real economic benefits for Scotland - making a real difference for business travellers and tourists by expanding our direct air services."
Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson said:
"This new daily service between Edinburgh and Atlanta is fantastic news for Scottish tourism. Links between the United States and Scotland are already strong, with the first six months of 2005 seeing Scotland enjoy an impressive increase of 13% in the number of visitors coming here from North America.
"The planned Delta service will further boost these numbers, and I am delighted to welcome today's announcement."
Mary McLaughlin, Director of Transport at Scottish Enterprise which administers the Route Development Fund on behalf of the Scottish Executive, said:
"This latest announcement continues to strengthen Scotland's connectivity to the rest of the world and provide more opportunities for both business and tourism.
"The successful Route Development Fund has helped put Scotland on the map by extending its global reach and direct services like this allow people to experience what Scotland has to offer at first hand".
The service will be operated by a Boeing 767 - 300 ER series aircraft with capacity for 48 business and 148 economy passengers.
Delta Airlines is the second largest airline in the world in terms of passengers carried (in excess of 87 million a year) and the leading US carrier across the Atlantic. It is a member of the Sky Team - an alliance of airlines which includes Continental, Alitalia and Air France/KLM. Atlanta is the airlines main hub airport and offers connection to 178 domestic and 58 international destinations.
The Route Development Fund is provided through the Scottish Budget with £12.4 million funding. It is operated in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, who administer the fund on the Executive's behalf.
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. The exact amount from the fund given to the airline cannot be disclosed due to reasons of commercial confidentiality.