Press release -
easyJet continues Scottish expansion with launch of new Marseille to Glasgow route
easyJet, Europe’s leading and Scotland’s largest airline, has today (29 June) expanded its Scottish network by launching a new route from Marseille to Glasgow.
The new summer service, which left Glasgow this morning, is expected to carry 10,000 annually and is Glasgow’s first direct connection to Marseille. Flights operate twice weekly on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s with fares starting from £33.49 one way per person.
The airline operates 20 routes from Glasgow and already flies to Marseille from London Gatwick and Manchester.
Ali Gayward, easyJet’s Head of Scotland, said:
"As Scotland’s largest airline we are pleased to further strengthen our network with the launch of this new route to Marseille today.
"The second largest city in France has plenty to offer travellers from historic sites such as the Abby of St.Victor as well as the daily fish market at Vieux Port Old Harbour.
"We believe that this will prove a popular addition to our existing network."
Francois Bourienne, commercial director at Glasgow Airport, said:
"Marseille is a fantastic new addition to the long list of destinations easyJet serves from Glasgow. We have enjoyed great success in strengthening our links with key European cities and both Glasgow and Marseille share many cultural ties having been formally twinned since 2006.
"In addition to having many great city attractions such as the Vieux Port, Fort St Jean and Notre Dame de la Garde, Marseille is also within easy reach of popular locations such as the breathtaking Calanques. St Tropez and Provence. We’re confident this new route will be incredibly popular with our customers and look forward to working with easyJet to ensure its success."
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:
"Scotland is more connected than ever before through transport and digital channels – giving it a louder voice within key markets and we are delighted to welcome today’s expansion of easyJet’s Scottish network. Our stunning landscapes, the richness of our culture and warmth of our people make this country a popular destination for visitors from France – one of our biggest European markets. This year, Marseille and Glasgow celebrate their tenth anniversary as twin cities, so there has never been a better time to visit Glasgow and experience its cultural vibrancy, paired with the stunning scenery of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park on its doorstep. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from Marseille through this twice-weekly service."
About Marseille: Marseille is the second largest city in France and its 2,600 years of tradition are evident wherever you look from the harbour to the hillside.
The Musée d'Histoire covers Marseille’s long history while the Abbey of St.Victor provides access to a 5th century crypt. At the Vieux Port, Old Harbour, the daily fish market is a highlight and the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde can be seen from anywhere in Marseille.
The Plage des Catalans is just a short walk from the center of Marseille, a small, sandy beach perfect after a day of exploring. For something a bit quieter it’s worth travelling to any of the number of beaches between La Point Rouge harbour and La Madrage harbour.
Heading out of the centre of Marseille and onto one of the neighbouring islands is Château d'If, a fortress which was made famous by The Count of Monte Cristo. Climbers can head to the Calanques, fjords, for an adrenaline rush while walkers can stick to the trail for some stunning sights.
- ENDS -
*Fares based on two people travelling on the same booking
For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252, log onto www.easyjet.com or follow @easyJet_Press
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- easyjet
- airlines
- glasgow
- international marketing
- corporate communications
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- About easyJet:
easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.
easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 70 million passengers annually, of which more than 12 million are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 240 aircraft on more than 800 routes to over 130 airports across 31 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.
easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in seven countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports a number of local charities and also has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £6m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.
The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.
Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – from our launch almost 20 years ago when we changed the way people fly to the present day where we lead the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for our passengers. - 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:
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
- 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
- Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
- 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.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP.
- The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit www.gov.scot or follow @scotgovESIF
- 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 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
