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Money-spinning link leaves tarmac
Scotland's first direct air link to Dubai is to take off from Glasgow
The first direct flight from Scotland to the Middle East has left the tarmac at Glasgow International Airport.
The money-spinning service is due to generate £100m for the Scottish economy over the next 10 years connecting the west of Scotland with Dubai.
The Emirates Airlines plane took off at 1415BST on Saturday with nearly 300 aboard on a seven-hour flight path to the United Arab Emirates.
The route is being subsidised with a £7m grant from the Scottish Executive.
Flying Scotsman
The flight was piloted by a Scotsman and its take-off witnessed by Parliament Minister Patricia Ferguson and Glasgow City Council leader Charles Gordon.
Captain Ken Gillespie, 37, originally from Glasgow, said: "My usual flying schedule with Emirates takes me to all corners or the world, linking with different people and cultures.
"But it's always special to come home and an honour to lead our team on this special, first flight."
Stephen Baxter, managing director of Glasgow Airport, added: "This is an historic day for this airport, for the city of Glasgow and for Scotland - one many of us here at Glasgow Airport will remember for a very long time."
This is exactly what Scottish business and tourism needs and it is vital we now seize the opportunities this new service provides to promote Scotland and grow our economy
Patricia Ferguson
parliament minister
Mary McLaughlin, director of transport at Scottish Enterprise, which administers the executive's air route development fund, said it was potentially the most valuable of all the fund's routes.
She said: "It is expected to generate in excess of £100m in economic benefits over the next 10 years and enables Scottish companies to do business more easily with lucrative export markets, currently worth around £3bn annually, in the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and Africa.
"It will also make it easier for tourists from all these areas, but particularly Australia, to come to Scotland."
The new route was welcomed by tourism body VisitScotland.
Deputy chairman Mike Cantlay said: "The flight will open up a whole new level of possibilities for Scotland in terms of both leisure and business travel, which is fantastic news not only for Glasgow but for the country's economy overall."
Wealth of opportunities
The executive called on Scottish businesses and tourism to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the new route.
MSP Ms Ferguson, said: "For the first time, it gives direct access to the Middle East's key centre for commerce and travel.
"This is exactly what Scottish business and tourism needs and it is vital we now seize the opportunities this new service provides to promote Scotland and grow our economy.
"Direct flights will enable the commercial ties which already exist between Scotland and UAE to flourish.
"And connections to the Indian sub-continent, the Far East and Australasia will open up these growing markets for more Scottish companies."
From BBC News
Scotland's first direct air link to Dubai is to take off from Glasgow
The first direct flight from Scotland to the Middle East has left the tarmac at Glasgow International Airport.
The money-spinning service is due to generate £100m for the Scottish economy over the next 10 years connecting the west of Scotland with Dubai.
The Emirates Airlines plane took off at 1415BST on Saturday with nearly 300 aboard on a seven-hour flight path to the United Arab Emirates.
The route is being subsidised with a £7m grant from the Scottish Executive.
Flying Scotsman
The flight was piloted by a Scotsman and its take-off witnessed by Parliament Minister Patricia Ferguson and Glasgow City Council leader Charles Gordon.
Captain Ken Gillespie, 37, originally from Glasgow, said: "My usual flying schedule with Emirates takes me to all corners or the world, linking with different people and cultures.
"But it's always special to come home and an honour to lead our team on this special, first flight."
Stephen Baxter, managing director of Glasgow Airport, added: "This is an historic day for this airport, for the city of Glasgow and for Scotland - one many of us here at Glasgow Airport will remember for a very long time."
This is exactly what Scottish business and tourism needs and it is vital we now seize the opportunities this new service provides to promote Scotland and grow our economy
Patricia Ferguson
parliament minister
Mary McLaughlin, director of transport at Scottish Enterprise, which administers the executive's air route development fund, said it was potentially the most valuable of all the fund's routes.
She said: "It is expected to generate in excess of £100m in economic benefits over the next 10 years and enables Scottish companies to do business more easily with lucrative export markets, currently worth around £3bn annually, in the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and Africa.
"It will also make it easier for tourists from all these areas, but particularly Australia, to come to Scotland."
The new route was welcomed by tourism body VisitScotland.
Deputy chairman Mike Cantlay said: "The flight will open up a whole new level of possibilities for Scotland in terms of both leisure and business travel, which is fantastic news not only for Glasgow but for the country's economy overall."
Wealth of opportunities
The executive called on Scottish businesses and tourism to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the new route.
MSP Ms Ferguson, said: "For the first time, it gives direct access to the Middle East's key centre for commerce and travel.
"This is exactly what Scottish business and tourism needs and it is vital we now seize the opportunities this new service provides to promote Scotland and grow our economy.
"Direct flights will enable the commercial ties which already exist between Scotland and UAE to flourish.
"And connections to the Indian sub-continent, the Far East and Australasia will open up these growing markets for more Scottish companies."
From BBC News