HOLIDAYMAKERS were all shook up today when showgirls and an Elvis Presley impersonator checked in at Glasgow Airport to celebrate 15 years of daily Transatlantic flights.

Almost 200 passengers were treated to an American-themed buffet – it included a giant cake in the shape of an apple – before boarding their United Airlines holiday flight from Glasgow to Newark Liberty International Airport near New York.

They were even given a water canon salute by airport chiefs to mark the anniversary which has seen 1.5million passengers fly between Scotland's biggest airport and America's east coast since the inaugural flight took off on July 16, 1998.

Aviation links with the Big Apple have generated bumper rewards for Glasgow and the rest of the country. It's thought big spending Amer-ican tourists who have flown into the city since the start of the service have injected tens of millions of pounds into Scotland's economy.

And the Newark hub hasn't just attracted Scots heading to New York. The airport is also popular for connecting flights to other destinations in the States, such as San Francisco in California.

The service launched as a Continental flight before a company merger saw it being taken over by United.

Chicago-based United's UK managing director Bob Schumacher said: "We thank customers for choosing United over the past 15 years. Glasgow continues to be an important destination with strong customer support for the route.

"Our flight offers fast access to the most popular tourism and business destination in the United States as well as unparalleled connectivity to cities throughout the Americas via our New York hub."

As Elvis serenaded pass-engers Campbell Mackinnon, operations director at Glasgow Airport, said: "Since its launch in 1998, United's Glasgow to Newark service has proved extremely popular with business and leisure passengers alike.

"Not only does it generate considerable in-bound tourism revenue for Glasgow and Scotland, it allows businesses to access and trade with what is the world's largest economy. Routes such as this enable Scotland to maintain and increase its global competitiveness."

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: "Efficient airline connectivity is key to Scottish tourism in a 21st century landscape. Busy lives and developments in technology mean that we all want to get to places quickly and easily whether that's for business or leisure.

"This long-standing United Airlines route has done just that for 15 years.

"As we prepare to welcome the world in 2014, with a year of astounding events such as the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and Homecoming, I am sure the New York United Airlines route will be busier than ever. We look forward to welcoming thousands more American visitors to Scotland."

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk