CANADIAN sports fans are expected to jet into Glasgow via Iceland for next year's Commonwealth Games.

Airline chiefs are predicting a surge in tourists from North America and are laying on extra flights in the run-up to the citywide sports extravaganza.

Icelandair reckon thousands of enthusiasts could make the journey from Canada to Glasgow to see some of the world's best athletes and it aims to boost seating capacity to the Games host city next summer by 7500.

The airline is to introduce another weekly flight in and out of Scotland's biggest city from April. The Icelandic capital of Reykjavik is used by the airline as a hub for connecting flights between Scotland and Canada as well as America.

Icelandair currently operates four flights to Glasgow each week.

A fifth will take off in seven months time with Icelandair general manager Hjorvar Saeberg Hognason admitting major events such as the Games and Ryder Cup are expected to be big draws especially for ex-pats living in Canada as well as Scots keen to meet up with family and friends in North America.

He said: " The Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup will prove a huge draw for our North American customers."

Airport managing director Amanda McMillan added: "With a series of world class events, including the Commonwealth Games, 2014 promises to be an exciting year."

Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said the extra flights presented,"new markets within the US and Canada."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk