Edinburgh Airport to grow again

Move to cope with 3.5 million more fliers over next three years

Edinburgh Airport has begun work to extend its terminal further in an effort to cut delays to passengers leaving aircraft and waiting for baggage.

The £50 million building expansion is also designed to help cope with an expected 3.5 million rise in annual passengers to 16.5 million over the next three years.

The development, at the east end of the terminal, is due to be completed by next summer.

Scotland’s busiest airport has launched work to further extend its terminal in an effort to cut delays to passengers disembarking aircraft and waiting for their baggage.

The £50 million building expansion at Edinburgh Airport is also designed to help cope with its annual passengers expected to increase by 3.5 million to 16.5 million over the next three years.

Chief executive Gordon Dewar admitted busy periods this summer had “impacted our service” and the improvements were needed to ensure passengers had a “positive experience”.

The development, at the east end of the terminal, is due to be completed by next summer.

Six extra boarding gates will be created to increase the total to 32 by extending the south east pier and add new seating.

This will enable more planes to park beside the terminal so fewer passengers are held up by having to be transferred by buses, which has become an increasing gripe as the airport has got busier. A three-storey section of the extension from the gate 12 area will include an expanded baggage reclaim hall for UK flights.

Immigration, customs and baggage reclaim for arriving international passengers will also be overhauled.

The development will include more space for shops, cafes and VIP lounges.

Mr Dewar said: “This is a major investment for the capital and Scotland, and further establishes Edinburgh Airport as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking airports in the UK. We are the fastest growing airport in the UK – and that demand is only going to grow with record numbers of passengers we expect to see passing through the terminal.

“There have been times this summer where we’ve experienced busy periods that have impacted on our service.

“This investment in new facilities will ensure we have the infrastructure needed to handle more passengers and provide them with a positive experience, whether arriving or departing.

“As Scotland’s gateway to the world, it’s vital we have firstclass infrastructure. We will continue to invest in that, creating more jobs, supporting the economy and opening up Scotland to the world.”

The plans met with a guarded welcome from the Scottish Passenger Agents Association, representing travel agents.

Secretary Janice Hogarth said: “We are delighted to hear about the next raft of investment to create a better experience for its passengers.

“The airport continues to expand with new routes and carriers, but it is essential the terminal building is able to cope with this increase in traffic to enable passengers to depart, arrive and pass through the terminal with speed, ease and efficiency.”

The £50m expansion of the country’s busiest airport will be welcomed by the 13 million passengers who pass through its sometimes crowded terminals each year.

The growth of Edinburgh Airport is undoubtedly a Scottish success story, with an ever-growing list of new routes and direct flights to destinations from North America to the Middle East. With work on-going to establish flights between Scotland and China, it is certainly delivering on its boast of connecting Scotland with the world.

The downside is that its rapid expansion has left the passenger experience a little wanting in some ways. The main terminal can be chock-a-block at peak times and the way sound amplifies in the security area can leave it feeling a little like being in the crowd at Murrayfield.

The work which is now under way promises to at least ease if not erase many of these problems. That will be welcomed by passengers whose journeys should be smoother and more relaxed.

That in turn should boost airport business, if those relaxed passengers tarry a little longer around the terminal and its shops.