Glasgow-Paris flights return

The Paris flights have been welcomed in Glasgow

A direct air link between Glasgow and Paris is to be restored as part of a budget airline's expansion plans.

Flyglobespan will launch a service to Orly, the first such service for several years. The move has been welcomed by airport management.

The airline will also fly from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Alicante, Malaga, Palma and Barcelona next summer.

In addition, Glasgow will have daily flights to Faro, Tenerife and the Czech Republic, Prague.

The Prague flights will increase competition on the route.

Flyglobespan's announcement follows hard on the heels of Czech Airlines revealing plans for services from Glasgow to Prague from 31 October using assistance from the Scottish Executive.

The Czech Airlines service is one of 27 to have received Scottish Executive backing from the Route Development Fund (RDF).

The fund supports new air links where airlines can demonstrate that the service will have a direct economic benefit to Scotland.

The new route will link Glasgow to Prague and onwards to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Russia and other Central and Eastern European destinations.

'Lucrative markets'

Scotland's Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson said: "We want to make the most of easier access to Eastern Europe and especially the other EU accession states.

"I am certain that the service will result in increased numbers of visitors, both business and leisure, coming to Scotland.

"VisitScotland will use increased tourism marketing money to exploit new, and potentially lucrative international markets.

"Prague presents an opportunity to do more to boost Scotland's profile ensuring that our country is a must-visit, must-return destination."

The managing director of Glasgow Airport, Stephen Baxter, said: "By opening up new links between Scotland and Eastern Europe, we're confident that this new service will also attract many new visitors to Scotland, providing a welcome boost for our own tourist industry."