BUDGET airline Jet2 is to create around 150 new jobs as it revealed its biggest ever expansion at Edinburgh Airport.
The carrier unveiled plans to launch 12 new summer destinations from 2016 including four exclusive routes to Kefalonia, Larnaca, Vienna, Zante not available with any other airline flying from Edinburgh. It will take the total number of destinations served by Jet2 from Edinburgh to 26.
Besides the exclusive destinations, Jet2 will also begin flying to Antalya, Crete, Dalaman, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Paphos, Rhodes and Tenerife from summer 2016.
The increase in activity will see it add a fifth aircraft to its fleet at the airport, which is Scotland's busiest with more than 10 million passengers last year, and is expected to create 150 new jobs within the Jet2 business and supporting industries.
Steve Heapy, Chief Executive Officer of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: "It's certainly exciting times for us at Edinburgh Airport. We're giving people the opportunity to jetaway with us to the Canary Islands, Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean for the very first time and our exclusive routes mean people in Scotland have some fantastic new places to visit.
"This huge expansion not only shows our commitment to and investment in the area but it also gives our loyal local customers even more choice and flexibility when it comes to their holiday planning for next year. We are thrilled that even more people will be able to experience our great value holidays and award winning flights. Roll on next year."
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, added: "We're absolutely delighted with today's announcement. This is great news for Scottish passengers and marks the biggest growth for an airline and holiday company at Edinburgh Airport since we became an independent company.
"Not only will we see Jet2.com and Jet2holidays nearly double their route network from Edinburgh, they'll also increase aircraft seat capacity by 55 per cent by basing a fifth aircraft here, meaning thousands more passengers each year travelling through Edinburgh Airport.
"Excitingly we'll see the introduction of the first service between Edinburgh and Vienna which is a particularly important destination for us to serve. Not only will it offer leisure travellers great choice for city breaks, it opens up further trade and business links between Scotland and this major European hub.
"Such extensive growth is great news for both the Scottish economy and Scottish customers and highlights our attractiveness as the airport of choice for both passengers and airlines."
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