Airport to trial a new route to add capacity

PASSENGERS will be able to take off every minute from Scotland’s busiest airport this summer under a pioneering trial that will offer airlines two different departure routes.

In a first for Scotland, Edinburgh Airport is to introduce a second departure route out of the capital.

Selected aircraft models, including Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s popular for short to medium-haul routes, will be able to opt for the alternative route under the six month trial, due to begin on Thursday, June 25.

It is intended to increase airspace capacity above Central Scotland to cater for a growth in demand in the wake of a record-breaking year for the airport, which handled more than 10 million passengers in 2014.

Creating a second departure flightpath out of Edinburgh will enable aircraft to take off every minute, instead of once every two minutes, helping to ease congestion.

Bosses said the move would allow them to grow the airport’s business without compromising punctuality.

Edinburgh currently has a capacity for 42 planes to take off per hour. If the second route was introduced permanently, it could boost aircraft traffic to 50 per hour by 2017.

David Wilson, chief operating officer of Edinburgh Airpor t, s aid: “As we continue to see more passengers travel through our airport, it’s more important than ever to increase capacity above Central Scotland.

“At the moment, Scotland’s aircraft currently fly on a network that was designed in the 1970s. What we’re aiming to do is begin upgrading the airspace above Edinburgh Airport and bring it into the 21st century.”

The Airspace Trial initiative is supported by air traffic control providers NATS in line with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidance.

The new route will enable aircraft to take off in a south westerly direction and turn right towards the River Forth, climbing above water before flying back over land at approximately 13,000ft.