New flights between Aberdeen and Belgium have been hailed as a major coup for north-east tourism after the Granite City was chosen over Edinburgh and Glasgow for the route.
Antwerp-based airline VLM will start flying to and from Aberdeen three times a week from June 4.
Peter Doehr, senior sales manager, VLM, and Visit Flanders UK and Ireland director Andrew Daines have been in Europe’s oil and gas capital to highlight the attractions of Antwerp as a leisure destination.
Business passengers from the north-east may also be interested in quick and easy transport links to Brussels, as well as a local petrochemicals industry.
But the potential for inbound tourism coming the other way is also generating excitement, particularly after Mr Doehr said VLM saw Aberdeen as its “gateway” to Scotland.
“Aberdeen is changing and that was a factor in our decision, “ he added.
North-east castles, golf, whisky and a new-found confidence in prospects for growing tourism in the region all helped to swing VLM’s first services into Scotland Aberdeen’s way, he said.
VisitAberdeenshire chief executive Chris Foy said: “The new route from Antwerp to Aberdeen is a major coup for the region and further strengthens our connectivity from Europe, providing easy access to the north-east for visitors from Belgium and the Netherlands – a combined tourism market worth £134 million.
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Russell Borthwick said: “Connectivity to the rest of the world is vital for the north-east, whether supporting our current efforts to diversify our economy or expand our reach as a tourist destination.”