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Scottish agents ask customers to choose potential new long-haul routes
Scottish travel agents are asking their customers to choose which long-haul flights they would like to see launched from Glasgow Airport.
The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association wants to gauge opinions of holidaymakers on potential new routes to Caribbean destinations.
Discussions have already taken place with organisations such as the Barbados Tourism Board to garner support for a new route – and research has been conducted with members – but the SPAA now wants to hear the views of Scottish holidaymakers.
SPAA president Joanne Dooey said a direct route from Glasgow Airport, which has a higher proportion of leisure travellers than other Scottish airports, would also offer greater flexibility for travellers intending to join cruise ships.
"In terms of the Caribbean, there is a seasonal route from Glasgow to the Dominican Republic, but we believe there is a massive opportunity to develop one to a destination such as Barbados," she said.
"We know that many Scottish holidaymakers are already travelling to Caribbean destinations, but the only option at the moment is to travel direct from Manchester or to connect on through London. In 2017, for example, more than 500,000 holidaymakers from Scotland flew out of Manchester because they were not able to get a direct flight closer to home.
"We definitely think this is something that we can get a push on, and we’re keen to work with partner organisations and the public to demonstrate to the airlines that there is a demand for such a service.
"Travellers are really broadening their horizons in terms of the places they want to visit, and this trend will only continue in the years to come. Feedback from the flying public will help us to ensure our travel industry is best placed to meet those demands."
To take part in the survey, Scots are being urged to visit facebook.com/spaavoiceoftravel or @voiceoftravel on Twitter.
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Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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