SCOTS holidaymakers will soon be able to fly to Florida and Mexico direct from the Capital.
Thomson Airways, the airline for Thomson and First Choice, has announced that it will be introducing the services from Edinburgh Airport to Cancun and Orlando for summer 2012.
Kevin Brown, managing director at Edinburgh Airport, said that the move highlighted the demand for more long-haul flights direct form Edinburgh.
He added:
“Our passengers and stakeholders are continually asking us for more direct flights from the capital, so I’m delighted to be announcing these new destinations from Edinburgh. “
The only long-haul route currently operating out of Edinburgh is a Continental service to New York.
Paul Cooper, head of airport negotiations for Thomson Airways, said:
“We are fully committed to our regional airports in Scotland. For those looking to escape for some summer sun next year, we will have more choice than ever before. “
But Francis Stuart, parliamentary and policy officer for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said that more focus should be put on highlighting holiday destinations at home.
She added:
“Long-haul flights are particularly energy intensive, using the same amount of carbon dioxide as many people use over the course of the year.
“Rather than introducing these new flights, we should be maximising holiday destinations in Scotland, the UK and Europe by improving land and sea connections. “
