Question reference: S6W-25133
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 1 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to "further grow direct air routes from US and Canadian cities", as set out in its publication, Scotland's International Strategy: Delivering for Scotland.
Answer
Transport Scotland, in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International, works to help Scotland’s airports secure new routes that are essential for inbound tourism, business connectivity and the economy as a whole. This includes work to grow our international connectivity to the US and Canada given the importance of these links for business, exports and tourism.
In 2023 we helped secure new services to Atlanta with Delta Air Lines, and to Calgary with WestJet. Further developments in 2024 will see JetBlue serve Scotland for the first time with their service to New York JFK, and WestJet resume their services to Toronto and Halifax. We continue to work with these airlines to help make these routes a success.
We also have regular engagement with airlines to discuss future opportunities to further develop our connectivity to North America. These discussions are commercially sensitive and I am unable to share specific details.
Connectivity to Scotland is also part of the North America joint business planning of the Scottish Government offices in Washington DC and Ottawa, and they support the work of Transport Scotland on the development of both existing routes and new connectivity through their in-country activities.
Furthermore, the Scottish Government is supportive of Edinburgh Airport in its ambition to establish preclearance for outbound flights to the US. Preclearance would help to ensure the ongoing success of established US routes and encourage the development of new ones.