A major American airline has gone head-to-head with a key rival on a top transatlantic route into Scotland.

It is a move the New York-based carrier says will be good for Scottish passengers as it challenges the Atlanta airline which until now was the only one on the JFK route.

JetBlue’s new Edinburgh to New York JFK offering, which goes up against Delta Airlines on the route that has the magic to raise interest across business and leisure markets, comes from a particular model.

The Herald: JetBlue is welcomed to Edinburgh Airport this week. Flights to Edinburgh will operate daily on JetBlue’s Airbus A321neo.JetBlue is welcomed to Edinburgh Airport this week. Flights to Edinburgh will operate daily on JetBlue’s Airbus A321neo. (Image: JetBlue)

When asked why the Scottish capital in an exclusive interview, Warren Christie, of JetBlue, told The Herald: "When determining new destinations, we often look for routes that suffer from high fares and low competition.

"Edinburgh stood out because the US is Scotland’s largest international source market for visits and value, and Edinburgh is the UK’s second most popular tourism destination.

"This provided us with a prime opportunity to establish a presence in Scotland and introduce new customers to the unique JetBlue experience, making Edinburgh a clear choice for new service from New York."

The airline’s US press release added: "This new service, only the second direct offering from New York’s JFK to Edinburgh, provides much-needed competition for customers traveling in and out of New York."

The Herald: Delta says it has partnered with airlines across the globe to connect people with an unsurpassed international network, adding: 'Delta, its Delta Connection carriers, and partner airlines offer service to more than 1,000 destinations in over 60 countries on six continents.Delta says it has partnered with airlines across the globe to connect people with an unsurpassed international network, adding: 'Delta, its Delta Connection carriers, and partner airlines offer service to more than 1,000 destinations in over 60 countries on six continents. (Image: Getty Images)

Delta Airlines responded to The Herald with this statement: "Delta Air Lines provides an unparalleled link from Scotland to the United States.

"With our partner Virgin Atlantic, the two airlines are offering our customers up to 5,300 weekly seats between Edinburgh and the United States, with four flights per day to four US gateways and seamless connections to over 70 destinations across North America and beyond.

"Delta and Virgin Atlantic operate widebody service between Edinburgh to the US and are the only carriers to offer Delta Premium Select which has proven very popular with our American and Scottish customers alike."

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JetBlue is offering limited round-trip fares at £399, while example prices on the two direct competition routes around the same days outwith the offer start at about £1,000 for a return according to comparison website Skyscanner. Ticket prices of course will be guided by demand and booking times.

The Herald: Karolien De Hertogh, of United Airlines. The airline links Edinburgh passengers with New York Newark, its first route, Washington DC, in its longest season this year, and Chicago O’Hare airports, and is the only carrier offering year-round service from the city to the US.Karolien De Hertogh, of United Airlines. The airline links Edinburgh passengers with New York Newark, its first route, Washington DC, in its longest season this year, and Chicago O’Hare airports, and is the only carrier offering year-round service from the city to the US. (Image: United Airlines)

Another US giant, United Airlines, said earlier that it is to offer more seats from the Scottish capital to America than "all other US airlines combined" as it celebrates its 20th year of flying from the city’s airport this month.

Karolien De Hertogh, United Airlines director of sales for UK & Ireland, said in an earlier interview with The Herald that: "What is important as well for the Scottish market for both business and leisure travellers is the connectivity that we then provide on a network beyond our gateways, because New York Newark, Chicago and Washington are key gateways for United Airlines, and then it’s the onward connections, so from New York we offer nearly 160 destinations, Chicago it is over 150 and from Washington Dulles it’s 103 destinations from those airports."

Chicago-based United also has 800 aircraft in the pipeline for between now and 2032.

Not directly in competition, the airline links Edinburgh passengers with New York Newark among others, which Skyscanner also costed at around £1,000 for a similar return journey across May and June.

The comparison company did a separate search to find "live pricing for September (outbound economy return travel Edinburgh to New York JFK) for JetBlue from £439 (via an OTA) and Delta at £527".

Skyscanner said: "United have Edinburgh to New York Newark (also September outbound economy return) on at £569 for the same dates."

It means three of the five top-ranked US giants have a direct flight to Edinburgh from New York on their schedule.

Also this week, the degree to which hard-pressed households are prioritising travel, after years now in which the UK economic backdrop has been truly miserable, has been evident again in recent days, business editor Ian McConnell writes in his Called to Account column.

“Package holiday giant TUI, and airlines easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air, which are all major players in the UK overseas travel market, have flagged continuing strength of demand in recent days. Holiday company Jet2, another heavyweight in this market, did likewise last month,” Ian says.

Business correspondent Kristy Dorsey delved into the fortunes of one of the biggest budget disruptors, writing that Ryanair has hinted that soaring fares may soon be coming down again.

Kristy writes that "a further 10% increase in fares that was expected this summer has failed to materialise with prices now predicted to be broadly flat".

Scott Wright, deputy business editor, looks elsewhere in the chain.

"It was among the sectors hit hardest by coronavirus restrictions," Scott writes. "Now it can dare to look forward with confidence.

"New figures from the Office for National Statistics have underlined the recovery of Scottish tourism from the pandemic and raised the prospect of a new era of growth, at least as far as international visitors to the country are concerned."