EDINBURGH Airport is operating a direct flight to the Caribbean in a sign of confidence returning to the aviation business.
The Virgin Atlantic jet took off for Barbados yesterday morning, directly connecting Scotland and the Caribbean for the first time.
The twice weekly flights, using wide-body Airbus A330 jets, are also the first time Virgin Atlantic has operated international routes from Edinburgh.
The airline will start flights from Edinburgh to Orlando in March next year.
And it was recently announced that United Airlines will resume flights between the Scottish capital and US next year.
The new service to newly republican Barbados aims to capture pent-up demand to visit families and for tourism.
The twice-weekly flights will also offer a cargo service to strengthen the global supply chain.
This will help companies looking to export and import Scottish products between Scotland and the Caribbean.
Gordon Dewar, the airport’s chief executive, said: “We are looking to make it as easy as possible for people to get away on that well-earned break or holiday of a lifetime.”
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: ““Our new route to Barbados offers the quintessential Caribbean getaway and a perfect escape for those travellers looking to either simply relax or explore a new corner of the world.”
The Scottish Government’s transport minister, Graeme Dey, described the new route as a “great show of confidence in the market”.
He added: “The sector has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s very encouraging to see the shoots of recovery with this new service and the return of the route to Orlando next year.”
The service will operate on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Customers can choose to fly in one of three cabins, including the luxurious upper class,
which offers an exclusive bar area and fully flat beds.
Premium gives customers a 38” seat pitch, welcome drinks and fine dining.
Return Economy flights start from £419 per person.
