Lufthansa’s Glasgow to Düsseldorf service takes off with trade mission

Lufthansa Regional’s inaugural Glasgow to Düsseldorf service took to the skies today (Monday 8 April) with representatives from the local business community who aim to promote greater ties between the two cities.

A cross section of businesses joined the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Scottish Development International (SDI) and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) on the Lufthansa Regional flight and will attend a series of engagements in Düsseldorf, which is located in the heart of the prosperous Rhine-Ruhr region.

Germany represents the largest international market for Glasgow with more than 71,000 trips made each year by German visitors who generate more than £19 million for the local economy. The new service will provide the perfect opportunity to strengthen links between Glasgow and Düsseldorf, both of which are economic powerhouses in their own right.

Lufthansa Regional will initially operate six flights per week, increasing to a daily service in June and it is the first time Glasgow Airport will have served Düsseldorf in 20 years. The launch of the route also marks the return of the extensive Lufthansa network to Glasgow.

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “Düsseldorf is at the centre of the Ruhr Valley, where so much of Germany’s engineering industry is based, and Germany is an important market for Glasgow. We’re pleased to be taking a delegation of business people from the city there to explore trading opportunities. This Lufthansa service is the latest new route won by the Glasgow Airport management team, and we should all recognise their remarkable success, especially in these tough times.”

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “Lufthansa’s new route between Düsseldorf and Glasgow is a major boost for the city and the wider West of Scotland economy. It provides a direct, daily flight to one of Europe’s wealthiest regions and there will undoubtedly be strong demand for this service from within the business community. However, it also has huge potential to deliver significant in-bound leisure tourism from Germany, which is our largest international market.

“Additionally, increased access is a key driver in attracting more delegates to the conferences that meet in Glasgow and this vastly improves the city’s global competiveness by providing passengers with greater worldwide connectivity through the Lufthansa network.

“Landing this new service has been the result of strong partnership working between Glasgow International Airport, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, the German Consulate in Glasgow, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and VisitScotland. Even in these tough times, Glasgow is constantly striving to improve its air links and we are looking forward to working with Lufthansa to ensure the success of this route.”

Derek Mackay MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, said: “The introduction of Lufthansa Regional’s Düsseldorf service is fantastic news for Glasgow Airport and for everyone in the West of Scotland. With Glasgow Airport managing to add this service to their route network it will hopefully attract other companies to investigate the possibility of bringing their business to Renfrewshire. 

“Glasgow Airport has recently proven its ambition to provide the best flights and services for its passengers, with the announcement last year of its second daily route to Dubai and also the more recent announcement of the £10 million investment to refurbish the airport in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“With Düsseldorf being a massive economic player amongst the rest of the major cities around the world, this is great news for the business community within Renfrewshire North and West.  Furthermore, if you add the fact that Scotland was recently voted as the top tourist destination this year in a CNN poll and the addition of this service it will no doubt increase tourism from Germany to Renfrewshire and around Scotland.”

Lufthansa is a founding member of the Star Alliance network which was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,329 airports in 194 countries.

Lufthansa Regional’s direct flights to Düsseldorf are on sale at www.lufthansa.com.

Ends

For further information please contact: 

      

Neil Richardson

Communications Manager

Glasgow Airport

0141 848 4737