A NEW direct route to the Big Apple has been launched from Glasgow.

Delta Airlines has announced the route straight from Glasgow to JFK Airport, New York just weeks after revealing a similar route from Edinburgh.

The flights will begin on May 26 2017, and will be the only non-stop flight between Glasgow and JFK at the time.

Running daily throughout the summer, the route will also give passengers a choice of 60 onward connections throughout the USA including to Los Angeles, Orlando and San Francisco.

Flights will take off from Glasgow every day at 1pm, landing in New York at 3.40pm local time, with the return routes leaving the Big Apple at 11.45pm and touching down in Glasgow at 11.25am.

Amanda McMillan, Managing Director of Glasgow Airport said: "The arrival of Delta Air Lines in Glasgow is fantastic news for Scotland and we really can not underestimate the significance of this announcement; especially since it comes just as we are celebrating the airport’s 50th anniversary.

"Routes such as this enable Scotland to maintain and increase its global competitiveness. Not only will it play a major role in supporting our growing tourism industry, it will provide Scottish businesses with yet another direct link to what is the world’s largest economy.

"New York is such an iconic city for which there is huge demand and passengers will be able to take advantage of Delta’s extensive route network through its hub at New York-JFK."