Virgin boost for Glasgow with Las Vegas flights

It will be the only scheduled airline to fly on this route when it launches next summer.

Craig Kreeger, the airline’s chief executive, said: “It’s important to us to offer customers from all across the UK our long-haul network during peak travel periods.”

Francois Bourienne, Glasgow Airport’s commercial director, said: “This is fantastic news for Scottish travellers as Las Vegas is considered the entertainment capital of the world and is an extremely popular destination.”

The route will form part of Virgin Atlantic’s joint venture with Delta Air Lines. Customers will be able to use Delta’s services out of Las Vegas to connect onwards in the US.

Virgin Atlantic flies daily between London Gatwick and Las Vegas and twice a week between Manchester and Las Vegas. The added service from Glasgow means that at peak times there will be ten flights a week from the UK with an additional 3,600 seats to and from the US city over the season.

A Boeing 747-400 aircraft will operate on Thursdays in September and October. The aircraft flying to Las Vegas will be configured with 14 upper class seats, 66 premium economy seats and 375 seats in economy.

The airport will be hoping the new service emulates the success of Virgin Atlantic’s Florida flights, which have grown in popularity every year since launching in 2007.

TERRY MURDEN