Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Platinum Partner, Glasgow Airport BAA, is negotiating a range of new international air routes which will generate around £16million in business for the city. The organisation is close to securing new services to destinations in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Egypt and Canada, in addition to potential new routes to Amsterdam, Split in Croatia, Dusseldorf/Brussels, Birmingham and Stavanger in Norway.

Earlier this year Glasgow City Council allocated £100,000 to the airport’s route development fund and representatives from the council, Glasgow and Edinburgh’s marketing bureaus and BAA, are due to meet with the Scottish Government on Friday to discuss state support for the fund.

Estimates put local economic impact of the flights already secured or being negotiated at £20million, with the potential to generate more than 70,000 inbound passengers and more than 200,000 overnight stays.

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “Glasgow Airport is an integral part of the city’s economic infrastructure. In addition to daily commuter services supporting national business activity, international tourism accounts for over £700m annual income for Glasgow’s economy. The route development fund is key to expanding airport operations, raising Glasgow’s international profile, boosting access to global markets and generating significant investment in the city’s economy, something which will become increasingly important in the coming months and years.”