The news came on a day when more than 200 holidaymakers were due to board a maiden flight to the Spanish party island of Ibiza.

Charter flights linking Glasgow Airport with the French cities of Nantes, Lyon and Paris were launched this week by the Ayrshire-based France Travel Services.

Parent firm Stewart Travel Group had an inaugural flight from Lyon touch down in Glasgow two days ago, amid predictions more than 5000 extra French tourists will holiday in Glasgow over the next eight weeks spending the equivalent of £60 per head. This, marketing chiefs predict, will be spent on just one night's stay in the city before visitors head around the country.

Of course, some of the French visitors are expected to stay longer in the city.

Millions of French tourists come to the city and spend an estimated £18.4million every year.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau chief executive Scott Taylor, said: "These new services are a boost for Glasgow and present us with a significant opportunity to increase short-break tourism from France."

A spokesman for French Travel Services said: "We are delighted to have begun our new services which provide French and Scottish passengers with the opportunity to enjoy the cultural and gastronomical delights of these great cities."

The new service was launched 48 hours before budget airline Jet2.com and sister firm Jet2holidays launched twice-weekly flights from Glasgow to Ibiza.

More than 200 holidaymakers were today due to jet out to the Spanish island.

The airport's commercial director Francois Bourienne said: "The addition of the new French routes is fantastic news for Glasgow Airport.

"All three have huge potential to generate significant in-bound tourism for Glasgow and the west of Scotland."

He added: "Jet2.com has brought the number of destinations it serves from Glasgow to 17 and Ibiza has much to offer."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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