High-end travel firm launched amid talk of Etihad link to Edinburgh

Stirling & Stirling has been founded to offer bespoke package holidays that include private dinners, helicopter transfers and a full concierge service, all based at exclusive Scottish hotels and estates.

Its founder pointed to the recent introduction of first-class cabins on Emirate’s Dubai-to-Glasgow service, as well as expectations that the capital of the seven emirates, Abu Dhabi, will forge links with Edinburgh Airport following last week’s sale by BAA to Global Infrastructure Partners.

Gordon Dewar, the incoming chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “There is no secret about the fact we want to expand our route network and the Middle East is a target for us, as are American routes and other European routes where there are still gaps, and ultimately beyond into Asia.

“We talk to airlines all the time, we will continue to do that because we have an even more compelling offer under the new ownership, because we can do things in a different and improved way.”

But he added that “we don’t talk about individual deals until the deal is struck”.

Ian Stirling, co-founder of Stirling & Stirling, said: “There are good options for Etihad to fly to Edinburgh. With Gordon and the new team, that is something they will want to do with Edinburgh.”

He added that Scotland’s “fresh air” was appealing to Gulf-based tourists. Stirling said: “The Gulf in the summer is like an incinerator. No one likes being in 50 degrees.

“The recession hasn’t hit the high-end market. What they really want to do is give them something they could really appreciate.

“UAE and the other Gulf states discreetly own quite a lot of Scotland.

“They have a natural affinity for Scotland. They will have done London but they like the space, the shooting and falconry in Scotland.”

Stirling recently travelled to the UAE and Kuwait as part of a trade mission hosted by VisitScotland and Visit Britain.