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Edinburgh Airport developments welcomed

Work to expand the terminal building at Edinburgh Airport will begin early next year. The development plans include a larger departure lounge and the inclusion of more commercial areas including shops, restaurants and bars. The terminal will also see the addition of a quiet area and a family zone.

The development of Edinburgh's Airport terminal is a response to a prediction that passenger numbers will increase threefold over the next twenty years, reaching some 26 million passengers a year. In the future, the airport will construct three aircraft stands in order to accommodate new flights into the airport. Already the airport has been expanding its services, however, airport operator BAA expects that the number of flights in and out of the airport should double by the year 2030.

Complete expansion plans to handle the increased numbers will cost around £1 billion and create an estimate 10,000 jobs. Next year alone the airport will be spending some £40 million to resurface the runway and develop the terminal building.

Edinburgh Airport announced its expansion plans following potentially the busiest weekend of the year. Officials at the airport say that the developments will not take place during such busy times, however.

The results of the developments are expected to be dramatic and were planned in response to customer feedback. The managing director at Edinburgh Airport, David Johnston said, "The changes to the departure lounge follow on from customer research that told us they wanted improved waiting areas."

Local business welcome the developments and the investment into the local airport. Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: There is a direct correlation between the number of non-stop flights - particularly international ones - and the health of the city's economy."

Tourism officials are also excited about the plans. Ben Carter, the VisitScotland area director for Edinburgh and Lothians, said, "We have seen a rise in international visitor numbers to Edinburgh in recent years. Undoubtedly the increasing number of direct flights to the city from Europe and the US - key overseas markets for Scotland - has been an important factor in this.

"Investment to expand and enhance the facilities at Edinburgh Airport will provide further opportunities to attract more direct flights. As a result of this, more visitors will come to the Capital and the whole of Scotland, so we very much welcome the developments.


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Jennifer Jones Editorial


05/07/2007

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