Press release -

Korean Air puts Seoul into Glasgow Airport

Glasgow Airport has secured Scotland’s first ever direct service to South Korea after flag carrier Korean Air and tour operator Hanjin Travel confirmed they will introduce a summer charter service from the capital of Seoul.

Korean Air and sister company Hanjin Travel will operate three services during August 2016 between Seoul and Glasgow Airport which will serve as the gateway to over 1,000 South Korean tourists who will fly to and from Scotland.

Hanjin Travel is one of South Korea’s leading travel companies and has played a major role in developing the country’s tourism industry. In recent years, it has been extending its European route network with the launch of similar charter services to Oslo and Marseille. Hanjin Travel has launched its Glasgow service with a view to introducing further flights in 2017.

Operated by Korean Air using an Airbus A330 aircraft, the first flight from Seoul will arrive in Glasgow on 5 August with the second and third flights arriving on 12 and 19 August respectively.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said:

"New long haul connections via the Middle East and major European hubs are making it increasingly easy for visitors from emerging markets to connect to Scotland.

“I visited Seoul last year – a first for VisitScotland – to meet and build relationships with key industry leaders and as such I'm delighted that a major tour operator in the South Korean market is launching a direct charter series. With our exceptional golf courses, Scotland is well positioned as an aspirational destination amongst South Koreans and this exciting development will further help to build Scotland's profile for new visitors from the Far East."

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said:

“To have secured what is Scotland’s first direct service to South Korea is a major milestone for Glasgow Airport and it is of huge significance to our tourism industry. The decision by Korean Air and its sister company Hanjin Travel to introduce this route reinforces Scotland’s global appeal as a tourist destination and it highlights the growth in demand we are experiencing from Asian tourists.

“Hanjin Travel has been instrumental in encouraging the growth of South Korea’s outbound tourism market and this service represents an important step in further strengthening Scotland’s ties with Asia. We are looking forward to welcoming both Korean Air and Hanjin Travel on board and to working closely with them to develop their initial charter programme in the years ahead.”

Mr Oh Sang Kwon, President Hanjin Travel stated:

“As one of South Korea’s leading travel companies we are very proud to be introducing the wonderful city of Glasgow and indeed the whole of Scotland to our passengers. I am sure the city’s excellent shopping and wonderful architecture alongside the world renowned scenery of Scotland will prove very popular with South Korean travellers. We look forward to a traditional Scottish welcome when we arrive in Glasgow Airport this August."

Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said:

“Securing Korea’s national air carrier and Scotland’s first direct service from South Korea is a momentous achievement for Glasgow and a fantastic start to the new year for the city and our airport.

“Having just been named by travel industry bible National Geographic Traveller as one of the 20 best destinations in the world for 2016, this announcement further strengthens Glasgow’s reputation as Scotland’s long-haul gateway and reinforces our commitment to growing the city’s global connectivity and forging tourism links with emerging markets. Glasgow is looking forward to working with Korean Air and Hanjin Travel ahead of the service commencing this summer.”

Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay said:

“The announcement of this charter service is an exciting development for Glasgow Airport, providing a direct link to Seoul, one of the biggest cities in the world.

“This service will provide another direct link to Scotland for visitors who want to get a taste of our fantastic tourism experience. I congratulate both Glasgow Airport and Hanjin, and wish them every success with this new service. The Scottish Government hopes it can be a stepping stone to a more extensive link between Scotland and South Korea in the future.”

Allan McQuade, Business Infrastructure Director, Scottish Enterprise added:

"This new direct service is excellent news for Scotland. Direct services make Scotland a more attractive destination for both tourists and businesses by removing the need for extra connecting flights. This not only helps the economy by boosting tourism, but also encourages overseas trade and investment.”

- ENDS -

For more information contact:

Brian McClean

Head of Communications

0141 848 4558

07754 390160

brian.mcclean@glasgowairport.com

Nicola Macnaughton

Communications Manager

0141 848 4737

07725 638246

nicola.macnaughton@glasgowairport.com

Topics

  • Tourism

Categories

  • glasgow airport
  • south korea
  • international marketing
  • corporate communications

Regions

  • Scotland

Notes to Editors

Glasgow Airport

  • Glasgow Airport is owned by AGS Airports Limited. AGS Airports is a partnership between Ferrovial and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) established in 2014 to invest in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports. In December 2014, Amanda McMillan, Managing Director of Glasgow Airport, was appointed as the CEO for AGS as a group.
  • With 30 airlines serving more than 120 destinations worldwide, including Canada, the US, the Caribbean, Europe and the Gulf, Glasgow Airport is Scotland’s principal long-haul airport.
  • In addition to being Scotland’s largest charter hub, Glasgow Airport serves more Scottish destinations than any other airport and is a key component of Scotland’s transport infrastructure. The airport supports over 7,300 jobs across Scotland and makes the largest contribution of any airport to Scotland’s economy, generating hundreds of millions of pounds.
  • In 2015, more than 8.7 million people travelled through Glasgow Airport representing an annual increase of 13% - the largest ever increase in the airport’s annual passenger numbers. In 2015 Glasgow Airport secured three major industry accolades – UK Airport of the Year, Scottish Airport of the Year and the Best Airport in the UK with 3 -10 million passengers.
  • Glasgow Airport will celebrate its golden anniversary in 2016. It was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen on 27 June 1966.

VisitScotland

  • Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
  • VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
  • The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
  • This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
    1. Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland       to visit different parts of the country
    2. Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
    3. Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international       opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One       Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
    4. Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
    5. Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
    6. Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
    7. Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
  • VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
  • The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
  • According to a recent Deloitte study, the tourism economy supports 270,000 jobs in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the tourism      economy contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
  • For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
  • Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
  • For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
  • For information about business events in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com


    Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016

  • 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
  • The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design begins on 1 January 2016 and ends on 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the current 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
  • Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector.
  • The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
  • The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
  • Join the conversation at #IAD2016
  • Events can join the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design Partner Programme throughout the year by visiting http://www.eventscotland.org/YIAD_partner_programme

Contacts

Hamish Hutchinson

Corporate Press Officer - National Contact for media enquiries on: Business Events/Tourism; Film Tourism; Outer Hebrides 0131 472 2283

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