As historic rivalries go, the one between Scotland’s two largest cities is famed in the UK and beyond.

Competition between Edinburgh and Glasgow's airports over the years has been no different.

Yet with the recent announcement that Edinburgh is to begin a new daily flight to Dubai is adding to the growing fortunes of the capital's airport hub.

Emirates Airline's year-round service from Edinburgh -- starting in early October -- will be the the third daily flight from Scotland to Dubai, the world's busiest international airport.

Previously Glasgow Airport had a monopoly on this destination, with the Middle Eastern airline flying from to the UAE from the city twice a day.

Hubert Frach, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president, said that the airline was increasing capacity to Scotland "to meet growing demand".

New route between Edinburgh and China to take off in June

Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, Gordon Dewar, said that the hub had been trying to gain the route for a number of years, so it was a "great pleasure to get it over the line".

"We’ve been growing twice the European average for the last five years now. We’re selling this fantastic product and opportunity that Scotland represents. At the moment we’re persuading airlines that this is a good investment," he said.

The Edinburgh flight will be at a different time (arriving at 2.50pm and leaving at 8.15pm) from those in Glasgow, thus serving different waves of connecting flights at the Middle Easter hub.

The large Boeing 777-300ER will feature a three-class cabin configuration, with eight private suites in first class, 42 lie-flat seats in business class and 304 seats in economy class.

Ryanair to cut Glasgow Airport base with 300 jobs at risk

As well as a popular holiday destination, Dubai also connects with places further afield, including parts of Africa, China, South East Asia and Australia.

India, in particular, is a growing market which Emirates has strong links in to, with both Scotland and the UK looking to foster greater connections with the country.

Tourism chiefs in Scotland welcomed the move, which they say will foster greater market and investment opportunities for the country.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf described the announcement as “excellent news," saying it would "give Scottish businesses even better access to global markets, thanks to the number of onward destinations on offer from Dubai".

Mr Dewar said: "What’s important is that the timing of this flight is another option compared to the two timing from in Glasgow.

"Now there will be a flight out of Scotland from one of the airports to meet every single wave out of Dubai, so depending on where you’re trying to get to beyond Dubai, it is really important in terms of frequency and time savings."

He added: "Yes of course we’re in competition with Glasgow, we always have been, and that’s one the great things that drives us in terms of ensuring that we do the best we can, so we’re delighted that we’ve got an Emirates route as well and it can add to the very many routes that only we have."

"We both do what’s best for our own businesses and for Scotland, so I’m sure they’ll be out there selling Glasgow and Scotland the best way they can."

Edinburgh Airport was put on the market by its owner BAA in 2011 when the Competition Commission ruled it had to sell either Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Both airports recorded their busiest years last year, with Edinburgh Airport reporting more than 13 million travellers and Glasgow reporting 9.9 million.

However the Dubai win is the latest long-haul flights deal for Edinburgh alongside the "game-changing" route announced between Edinburgh and Beijing, as well as Washington DC also beginning this year.

It also comes after Glasgow Airport is still reeling from the news that Ryanair routes operating from there are to be reduced from 23 to three, with five being transferred to Edinburgh.

Aviation expert Laurie Price, a former government aviation adviser and ex-chief aviation strategist for global consultants Mott MacDonald, said that though broadly equal 20 or so years ago, with Glasgow often ahead, recent shifts have changed the dynamic.

Mr Price said: "Ever since you’ve had a Scottish parliament and devolution, the balance of traffic has tended to move to the east.

"In an ideal world, lowland Scotland would have one airport handling 20 million people, just as Manchester handles around that mark.

"But there’s a certain inevitability in the way that the world has evolved. That transition has taken place in the last few years, with Edinburgh as the site of government.

"But equally it is also a function of the lack of slots of the UK number one hub, Heathrow.

"There’s a ripple effect, because if you don’t have the capacity at your number one hub, it will go to the next best."

He added: "Glasgow is a big airport in relative terms, it makes it one of the largest in the UK. Edinburgh is not that far ahead, so they’re in the same ballpark.

"As they are point-to-point airports, not transit airports," he said, "there are still tremendous reasons you want to go to both Glasgow and Edinburgh. They are both big markets."