Glasgow in Boston for Top Flight Conference

Representatives from BAA Glasgow and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) will travel out to Boston later this week to attend the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 122^nd Schedules Conference from 14-17 June.

The bi-annual IATA Schedules Conference is attended by over 1000 delegates and provides a forum for up to 300 airlines to meet with representatives of more than 200 slot co-ordinators and schedules facilitators in an effort to obtain the slots that will give them the best possible schedule to offer their customers.

During the event, GCMB and BAA Glasgow will host a joint reception for the delegates who comprise key decision makers, senior airline executives and route planners.

Gordon Dewar, Managing Director of BAA Glasgow, said:

“The IATA conference is an important showcase for the airline industry and we are delighted to be working with Glasgow City Marketing Bureau to promote Glasgow and the west of Scotland. As Scotland’s busiest international gateway, Glasgow Airport is constantly working to expand the range of destinations it serves, and this conference provides an exciting opportunity to sell the benefits of Glasgow as a business and leisure destination to some of the key figures in the airline industry.

"We relish the opportunity to meet with new airlines to discuss the benefits of flying direct into Glasgow Airport. We believe there is huge potential to grow the range of destinations available from Glasgow, and the support we receive from Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and others is invaluable. With fierce competition from around the UK and Europe, it is important that we work together, in partnership, to achieve the shared objective of growing visitor numbers to the city and region."

Tom Rice, Head of Marketing at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, added:

“The IATA Schedules Conference represents an invaluable opportunity for us to highlight Glasgow’s credentials as a leading international leisure and business destination as well as Glasgow Airport’s importance as a key gateway to Scotland to this influential audience.

“We will continue to work with Glasgow Airport on a wide range of joint initiatives to maximise business opportunities and increase economic benefit for Metropolitan Glasgow.”

Ends 12 June 2008

Issued by and further information from:

Moira Dyer, Senior Manager – Public Relations

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau

Tel: 0141 566 0831

Email: moira.dyer@seeglasgow.com

Note to editors:

1. IATA - the International Air Transport Association – works with its airline members and the air transport industry as a whole to promote safe, reliable, secure and economical air travel for the benefit of the world's consumers. IATA’s 240 member airlines comprise 94% of all international traffic. IATA employs 1400 people located in 90 offices that serve over 130 countries around the world. www.iata.com

2. Since 2002, Glasgow Airport's parent company BAA Scotland has invested £111 million in support of new air links to and from Scotland, including £23.5 million in 2007 alone.