20 PER CENT INCREASE IN INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS MAKES FOR RECORD NOVEMBER AT EDINBURGH AIRPORT

As has been the trend throughout the year, the growth of international passenger numbers spearheads Edinburgh Airport’s success with a near 20 per cent increase in this area compared to the same month last year.

Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh Airport’s Chief Executive, welcomed the news.

He said:  

“November’s passenger figures are worth celebrating. In what is traditionally one of the quiet months in aviation we have witnessed a 20 % increase in passengers on international flights.

“We also have a healthy equilibrium of inbound and outbound passengers with the most balanced mix of any UK airport outside London.

“This fact, which reinforces the strength and appeal of Edinburgh as a destination and the global draw of Scotland, gives us greater confidence as we look at the opportunities and challenges ahead.

“But there can be no room for complacency – and Edinburgh Airport supports calls to abolish long haul Air Passenger Duty. We warmly welcome the recognition that international connectivity is a key driver for Scotland's economy.

“We now look forward to the Scottish Government publishing their plans and timetable which should back this position and also include the abolition - or substantial reduction - of APD on all international routes to and from Scotland, not just destinations over 2000 miles.

“The greatest volume of our passengers fly to and from Europe - and it is a reduction of the tax on these European routes that will deliver a substantial increase in services and create jobs and economic prosperity here in Scotland.”

ENDS

860,966 passengers passed through Edinburgh Airport in November 2016 making it the busiest November ever at EDI. (Nov 15 and Nov 14 respectively were the next busiest Novembers at EDI).

The increase is down to the increase in International passengers as detailed in the new routes brought to EDI since this time last year:

• Jet2 launched 11 new routes from Edinburgh in 2016 including Kefalonia, Rhodes, Larnaca, Zakynthos and Vienna
• Aer Lingus Launched Shannon service in March 2016
• In November 2015 Vueling only operated services to Barcelona, now they operate services to Rome Fiumicino, Paris Orly and Alicante.
• Transavia launched Paris Orly in April 2016
• Finnair Launched Helsinki in April 2016
• Wow Air launched a twice weekly service to Reykjavik in July 2016
• easyJet’s new Stuttgart (launched in Nov 15), Vienna and Venice services (launched Feb 16) boosted passenger numbers vs September 2015. 
• Ryanair’s Copenhagen service was new from November 2015. 

Existing international routes also saw growth with more passengers flying to Barcelona, Dublin with Ryanair, Berlin, Paris CDG, Milan Malpensa, Amsterdam and Madrid with easyJet, Malaga, Alicante and Faro with Jet2 and Brussels with Brussels airlines.