Easyjet to launch six new flights from Edinburgh
Easyjet has announced six new routes from Edinburgh Airport.
The new services are to Berlin and Hamburg in Germany, Prague in the Czech Republic, Copenhagen in Denmark and Dubrovnik in Croatia.
The company announced another new route, to Reykjavik in Iceland, last week.
The budget airline sought advice from VisitScotland, Marketing Edinburgh and the business community to see where the flights should go.
The company claims the move will bring 160 new jobs along with an estimated 500 indirect jobs in Scotland.
The number of planes at it base in the capital will increase from five to seven.
The firm said the new routes would bring 140,000 more passengers to the city, which would benefit the economy by almost £90m.
'Vote of confidence'
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "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.
"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."
Hugh Aitken, Easyjet's head of Scotland, said: "I'm confident our new 2013 schedule will really appeal to people travelling to and from Scotland both on business and for leisure and will further bolster Edinburgh's world-famous appeal for tourists."
Mike Cantlay, VisitScotland Chairman, said: "We are delighted to be working with Easyjet to help bring valuable new capacity to Edinburgh's route network.
"Scotland's connectivity is key to its success in attracting the lucrative leisure and business travellers which fuel a Scottish tourism industry worth over £11bn."
Gordon Dewar, chief executive, Edinburgh Airport, said: "Edinburgh Airport is committed to extending Scotland's reach across Europe and the world and we will do this by working in partnership with leading airlines like Easyjet.
"Today's announcement is hugely exciting for Scottish aviation by relinking Edinburgh with Berlin and Reykjavik and adding fantastic new destinations such as Hamburg and Prague.
"I'm sure these new routes will boost business and leisure travel to and from Scotland underlining aviation's key role in our economy."