More than 2,000 people have responded to an online survey assessing potential demand for a direct air link between Dundee and Amsterdam.
Dundee Airport launched the survey on Thursday 7th August to gather information on the market for a direct air link to one of the world’s leading international hub airports. The survey closed on Sunday 31st August with 2,059 individual submissions logged.
The data gathered will be used by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) in route development discussions with airlines as it aims to increase the range of destinations available from Dundee.
Initial results show that there is strong demand for a morning and evening service between Dundee and Amsterdam and that Amsterdam is rated highly both as a destination and for the access it provides to worldwide air connections.
Other initial findings from the survey include:
- 30% of respondents fly primarily for business and 70% for leisure;
- Edinburgh is the airport most frequently used by respondents;
- 74% of respondents use Amsterdam airport at least once a year;
- 71% of respondents would use a direct service from Dundee to Amsterdam up to four times a year and 19% up to 10 times a year; and
- 83% of respondents live within the airport’s immediate population catchment area.
Dundee Airport manager Graeme Bell said: “There has been a huge response to the survey which is excellent as it provides us with comprehensive, up to date market data. The responses will now be analysed in detail and we will publish a summary of findings in due course.”
Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL said: “A direct link to Amsterdam would be of enormous economic benefit to Dundee and the surrounding regions for business and leisure travel. The response from the public to our survey demonstrates strong demand for such a link and we will be presenting its findings to operators as part of our ongoing route development discussions at Dundee.
“More than 500,000 people flew between Edinburgh and Amsterdam last year and we believe that there is a real opportunity to secure some of this market given the population in Tayside, Perthshire and Angus that could use Dundee to access Schiphol and its onward international connections,” said Mr Lyon.
Dundee Airport handled 64,639 passengers in the year ending 31 March 2008, an increase of 22% on the previous year. Scheduled air services currently operate to London City with City Jet for Air France and Belfast and Birmingham with Flybe, operated by Loganair.
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