Reduction in direct flights to Scotland poses risk to business

Published on Wednesday 22 February 2012 16:01

A FALL in direct flights to Scotland could reduce the number of export deals and discourage inward foreign investment, a government adviser has warned.

Crawford Beveridge, chairman of the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), told MSPs a lack of direct air routes is forcing many executives to make an extra journey via London, potentially

deterring them from doing business in Scotland.

Mr Beveridge, a former chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, appeared before members of Holyrood’s Economy Committee, alongside fellow CEA member Professor Andrew Hughes Hallett.

The pair answered questions from MSPs on the council’s work, following its first formal meeting last month since being relaunched by the First Minister in November 2011.

The council consists of academics, economists and entrepreneurs whose role is to give economic advice to ministers.

It has been given a specific agenda to look at jobs, economic recovery, internationalisation and “economic levers”.

Committee member and SNP MSP Chic Brodie raised the issue of direct flights during a discussion on internationalisation and the council’s advice on increasing exports and inward investment.

Mr Brodie referred to airline Ryanair’s recent announcement that it will be axing five routes from Edinburgh Airport.

He said: “I was just wondering what advice had been given to the Government in terms of having more direct connectivity.”

Mr Beveridge replied: “I think you’re spot on there. One of the things that makes it hard to even get people to come and visit us is the difficulty in getting here.

“When you’ve already made the 12-hour flight from Beijing or California, or anywhere else, into London and then you have to hang around for another two or three hours to get that last flight up here, it’s a problem.

“If there are easier places to get to, many executives will just go to the easier places. It’s just too hard to make this extra dimension.”

The Scottish Government has already set out ambitions to improve international air connections with key global economies such as China.

Mr Beveridge said it is “very important” to consider measures such as funding airlines to set up direct flights, in order to see if a market can be established.

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13

Incandescent

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:22 AM

#5 Ghost, says: "If supplies were as abundant as they used to be the price would have dropped to $10.00barrel". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How convenient that your simplistic, ecomaniacal supply and demand model takes no account whatsoever of the enormous degree of control over crude production and pricing exercised by OPEC. The sheiks couldn't build palaces the size of several luxury hotels if "their" oil was selling for 10 bucks a barrel, now could they?

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12

Lachie Mhor

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:12 PM

11 Charles Linskaill Glad you like it. Describes Benito to a T

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11

Charles Linskaill

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:58 PM

~9. Lachie Mhor,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"xenophobic" good word.

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10

jasbar

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:57 PM

I disagree. I believe its more about Edinburgh Airport puitting its own greed before the interests of passengers and airlines. There are too many hands in our pockets. Does anyone doubt that giving sensible fees, edinburgh would be a hub airport for most of these budget airlines? Fact is, we're also seeing the same commercial arrogance with network rail. In truth, our whole transport system, despite many years of political tinkering, is in one hell of a mess.

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9

Lachie Mhor

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:41 PM

Get used to it. This is a legacyof the SNP and their xenophobic policies.

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8

Jacs

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:21 PM

Maybe it's time to think about customer service,i find Glasgow airport staff to be the most unhelpful with the exception of the wheelchair assist staff who are very helpful and have excellent customer service,especially Morris and Big Davie. Glasgow airport seems to think it's ok to make up their own rules and pass it off as the actual airlines policy WHICH IT'S NOT, Example one piece of hand baggage (cabin bag) ,AT Glasgow airport they also include a laptop as a pierce of baggage which is absouletely ludicrous,no other airport I know of does this. And whats with paying to weigh your suitcase,at other airports this is a free service. Last but not least Glasgow Airport has the highest tax of any airport in Europe for planes landing and taking off from there , not a great incentive for business or tourism, I am a Glasweigan and I do a lot of international travel , I live in New Zealand and I have been travelling to and from this airport for 35yrs. So come on Glasgow airport be competitive give travellers an incentive to use your airport..

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7

Tartancult

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:19 PM

OK, lets double the number of flights and we will double the amount of business.................oh, that's NOT how it works?

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6

Charles Linskaill

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:58 PM

It all serves Greedy Edinburgh Airport right, and as far as being bad for Scottish Business, What Unadulterated Nonsense!

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5

The ghost of Sir William Arrol

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:45 PM

The number of flights will continue to decrease no matter what. The aviation industry is very fuel intensive and global fuel production is stagnating with declines that will be obvious to everyone becoming very apparent over the next few years. That means fuel supplies will always fall short of demand and like any commodity in short supply the price will increase. The economy is currently in the doldrums and yet oil prices are near their all time high. If supplies were as abundant as they used to be the price would have dropped to $10.00barrel. This hasn't happened and the situation will only get worse as time goes by, and governments try to seek economic growth thereby increasing demand for fuel, rapidly so I'm afraid. It's not air links we should be worried about, it's the lack of sustainable high speed rail to anywhere. That is going to be the only affordable form of rapid long distance travel before very long and yet people and politicians have this amazing ability to delude themselves that things can return to 'business as usual' after this slight economic hiccup. Not realising the sands are shifting!

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4

ELDee

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:02 PM

#3, Glasgow has an extra emirates flight. Anyway why d flight have to come through that dump of jack booted security and camp guards at Heathrow?

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3

Marga

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:52 PM

Mr Beveridge, former Chief Exec of Scottish Enterprise - how long ago? - says "funding airlines to set up direct flights" - with his background, he should know very well that this is illegal under EU competition laws and that no airline will put on long-haul direct flights with no market. Maybe if the pandas can drum up some mates to make regular trips .. or if someone can somehow prove a need which hasn't been spotted by airlines (not forgetting that all Scottish-based airlines to date have gone bust ...).

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2

all politicians are the s*me

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:20 PM

Edinburgh is never going to have direct flights to Beijing or California. It does hwoever offer good connections via Frankfurt, Munich, CDG, Schippol, Heathrow and Newark.

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.The Answer

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:11 PM

Precious slots at Heathrow should and will be used to service the needs of London, traffice figures between Heathrow and scotland are declining year on year, niche regional airports like edinburgh should piggy back on to Schipol and leave slots at Heathrow to be used for high revenue international business class travel.

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