Edinburgh Airport has announced the launch of a direct route between the capital of Scotland and the capital of the United States, starting next summer.
This is the first time that a direct route between Edinburgh and Washington DC will be on offer.
Starting May 23, 2018, United Airlines will operate the service to Washington Dulles, offering daily flights between the two capital cities. United will continue to operate its year-round flights to New York Newark as well as extending its summer service to Chicago.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: ‘This is fantastic news for Edinburgh Airport and Scotland as we connect our two capital cities for the first time. As Scotland’s busiest airport, we are a leader for international destinations and this demonstrates the confidence of US carriers in the Edinburgh market, standing ahead of other parts of the UK with such strong inbound tourism demand.
‘Our partners at United have seen first-hand the positive impact of flights from Edinburgh to New York Newark and Chicago, and we are keen to replicate that to Washington for both a business and tourist audience. ‘The Scottish economy will also benefit as we open up Edinburgh to a new market and as international passengers continue to soar, we will see a positive contribution to the local and national economy.’
Minister for Transport Humza Yousaf said: ‘This new service between Edinburgh and Washington DC will help to strengthen the important economic and cultural links between Scotland and the United States.
‘The launch of a direct route into America’s capital city is great news for Scottish businesses, giving them better access to important US markets through United’s hub operation. It will also help support our tourism industry by making it even easier for visitors to get a taste of the fantastic experiences Edinburgh, and Scotland as a whole, have to offer.
‘I warmly welcome this announcement and wish Edinburgh Airport and United Airlines every success with this new route. I have no doubt it will prove popular with travellers on both sides of the Atlantic.’
