UK low-cost carrier easyJet is to introduce six new routes to its network from Edinburgh Airport in Scotland next summer after confirming plans to boost its based fleet from five to seven aircraft. The airline says the expansion re-affirms its “commitment to improving connectivity for Scotland” and will result in the creation of 160 new jobs along with an estimated 500 indirect jobs in Scotland.
Following a thorough consultation with VisitScotland, Marketing Edinburgh and the Scottish business community, easyJet will introduce direct services to Berlin and Hamburg in Germany and the popular city break destinations of Copenhagen, Dubrovnik, Prague and Reykjavik. These new flights will increase its network from the Scottish capital to 30 routes and alongside leisure demand will to keep the Scottish business community connected with Europe.
“The new direct links with some of the world’s most exciting destinations will open up fresh inward investment opportunities and strengthen existing ties with the likes of Germany and Scandinavia,” said Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. “International interest in Scotland has arguably never been greater and a number of these locations are on VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise’s wish lists in terms of target markets.”
easyJet forecasts an additional 140,000 passenger per year will be carried on these new routes, which it suggests could benefit the Scottish economy by almost £90 million. The tourism sector is key to Scotland and is worth approximately £11 billion to its economy, employing around 270,000 people.
“Attracting more direct flights to and from Scotland helps deliver cheaper fares for the public and reduces the need for extra connecting flights through London. This is a major endorsement and vote of confidence in Edinburgh and Scotland, and we are working behind the scenes to deliver even more direct routes,” added Nicola Sturgeon.
easyJet will be the only airline to operate flights between Edinburgh and the German cities of Berlin and Hamburg, resurrecting two former routes from the Scottish city. "The opportunities presented by the new routes from Berlin and Hamburg are particularly exciting. German visitors make up the biggest European tourism market to Scotland,” said VisitScotland Chairman, Mike Cantlay. The Berlin route was formerly operated by Ryanair between September 2008 and October 2011, while Hapag-Lloyd Express, BA Connect and most recently Ryanair to Lubeck, have served the Hamburg market.
The UK carrier will compete directly with bmi regional and Norwegian between Edinburgh and Copenhagen and will bring competition on the routes from the Scottish capital to Prague and Dubrovnik; both are served by Jet2.com, the latter on a seasonal summer only basis. easyJet will also bring the first year-round flights to Keflvaik International Airport, the main overseas gateway to the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik. Iceland Express has served this route for the past two years but on a summer-only schedule.
easyJet confirms that its two new Edinburgh-based Airbus A319s will arrive on December 2, 2012 and in March 2013. All these new routes will start from March 21, 2013 with the exception of Dubrovnik, which will commence from May 7, 2013. In the 12 months to end June 2012, easyJet carried over 4.5million passengers across its four Scottish airports – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Edinburgh is the largest of these facilities accounting for around 2.3 per cent of the airline’s total network capacity this month, versus 1.8 per cent at Glasgow and 0.3 per cent at both Aberdeen and Inverness. Edinburgh Airport is currently the 17thlargest point in the easyJet route network by available seat capacity.
"Today’s announcement is hugely exciting for Scottish aviation. I’m sure these new routes will boost business and leisure travel to and from Scotland underlining aviation’s key role in our economy," added Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Airport.
Current destinations from Edinburgh include key business routes to London, where easyJet flies to London Gatwick, London Stansted and London Luton as part of a commitment to keep the Scottish business community connected to London. Popular leisure routes to Dalaman, Naples, Athens, Tenerife and Grenoble have also been introduced in the past 12 months.
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