New low cost link to Edinburgh
Friday, 10 Dec 2004 14:29
Edinburgh: new route will strengthen its city break product
A new low-cost air service between Edinburgh and Hamburg has been unveiled by German firm Hapag-Lloyd Express.
HLX will operate flights three days a week, providing a link between Hamburg and Edinburgh for the first time.
BAA Scotland is supporting the new route through its £95 million Route Development Fund. It is hoped that the service will boost both business and tourism.
Councillor Donald Wilson, chair of Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board, said: "Germany is a key market for Edinburgh and Scotland, providing the city with 11 per cent of all our overseas visitors and £9 million in economic benefit a year.
"However, until now we have had relatively few direct links with German cities so a further low cost link, especially with the country's second largest city, will considerably strengthen Edinburgh's city break product and we welcome the development."
Edinburgh has one of the fastest growing airports in the UK as figures reveal that 7.9 million passengers passed through Edinburgh Airport in 2003.