Edinburgh Airport revises expansion plans
[September 19th 2008]
Edinburgh Airport is changing its expansion plans because of the cost that would be involved in relocating the Royal Highland Showground.
In the government’s 2003 White Paper, ‘The Future of Air Transport’, it was announced that the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) would have to relocate to allow the long term growth of Edinburgh Airport.
BAA, owner of Edinburgh Airport as well as Glasgow and Aberdeen airports in Scotland, then published its Edinburgh Airport Master Plan in 2006, outlining detailed development plans that would require the RHASS to move from 2013.
But the cost of relocating the RHASS, currently estimated at £350 million, means that Edinburgh airport is now looking for an extra 25.5 hectares of land outside the existing airport boundary within the period from 2013-2020.
"We remain committed to the long-term sustainable development of Edinburgh Airport and are continuing our ambitious £265 million capital investment plan to both expand and improve facilities for our passengers,” says Edinburgh Airport managing director, Gordon Dewar.
"However, we have been forced to change our longer term development plans to avoid the substantial and rising costs of relocating the showground after 2013. Our new plans provide a more cost-effective future for the development of the airport and remain in line with UK air transport policy,” Dewar explains.
Dewar says the airport is confident that long term demand at Edinburgh will be strong, but at £350 million the cost of relocating the showground “would place a considerable burden on the airlines serving Edinburgh today”.
"If we are to attract more airlines and flights to Edinburgh, then we have to maintain a competitive airport, and justify every penny we charge our customers as we build an airport which serves Scotland's capital for generations,” Dewar continues.
Edinburgh Airport has recently overtaken Glasgow Airport as the most popular airport in Scotland. Several major projects have started or will start during this year at Edinburgh including a £40 million plan to double the size of the terminal departure lounge, and a complete resurfacing of the main airport runway at a cost of £16 million.
Written by: Nick Purdom
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