JUBILANT airport chiefs in Glasgow were today celebrating the launch next year of the first direct flights between Scotland's West Coast and the German city of Munich.

The Bavarian capital joins a list of more than 20 new routes and services announced by a number of airlines since the start of the year which are likely to boost passenger numbers at Glasgow by millions.

Germany's national carrier Lufthansa is to launch direct flights between Glasgow and Munich - famous for its architecture and beer - from May until October.

The airline plans a weekly service and say journey times between both cities will be two hours and 15 minutes.

The airport's commercial director, Francois Bourienne, said: "We are delighted to offer our customers another top European destination to fly to from next summer.

Denise Hill, at Visit-Scotland, added: "Bavaria is the most prosperous region of Germany and this new flight will open up a rich new seam of high spending travellers from our largest European market."

Council leader and Glasgow City Maketing Bureau chairman, Gordon Matheson, said: "Germany is Glasgow's second largest inter- national market with 51,000 German visitors travelling to our city each year, contributing £12m to the economy."

Ryanair launched flights out of Glasgow for the first time last month, which will generate almost a million extra passengers a year

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk