Festival fliers
For the second consecutive month, more than 1.4 million people passed through Edinburgh Airport as passenger numbers continue to soar.
It was the busiest August on record for the airport and the second busiest month ever as 1,403,797 passed through. July 2017 the busiest month ever with 1,413,272 passengers.
Visitors from across the world and the rest of the UK flew in to experience the capital’s world famous festivals, with international visitors up 11.4% on the same month last year.
Chief Executive of Gordon Dewar said:
“Edinburgh and Scotland is one of the most scenic and attractive destinations throughout the whole year but the festival season is famous the world over and adds that special extra something.
“The attraction of those festivals was a driver in what is another record month for the airport and it was also the first time we’ve had two consecutive months of 1.4 million plus passengers, which is incredible.
“That growth is fantastic for the city and the country and is only going to continue, which is why we’re extending the terminal building as part of an £80 million investment plan to help the airport handle forecasted record number of passengers. It will include a new baggage hall, new gates, new custom facilities and retail outlets so we provide that 1st class experience our passengers want and deserve.”
The growth in passengers came primarily from international services.
Of the 21 new routes launched from Edinburgh between January and June 2017, 19 were international.
Passenger numbers were boosted by:
- Ryanair’s five new routes to Milan Bergamo, Girona, Port, Vigo and Warsaw Modlin
- Overall more people flew with easyJet with more flights operating to city destinations such as Geneva, Amsterdam and Paris CDG. Sun destinations like Dubrovnik and Alicante were also popular with more flights operating to those locations.
- Jet2 operated more services to Faro, Alicante, Las Palmas and Malaga. Destinations launched since last summer such as Girona, Thessaloniki, Almeria, Fuerteventura and Naples all proved popular.
- More passengers travelled between Oslo and Edinburgh with Norwegian as more flights operated and the aircraft were fuller than last year. The new services to Stewart International (New York), Providence Rhode Island and Bradley International (Hartford/Connecticut) all performed well.