Passenger Numbers Up

Rugby fans helped Edinburgh Airport secure an 8.2% rise in passenger numbers during February.

657, 386 people travelled through the terminal.

Domestic passenger figures increased by 9.5% to 338, 770, compared with a 6.5% international rise.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “After starting the New Year on a solid footing we enjoyed a strong February with our passenger numbers up over 8%. This is great news for our airlines, our passengers and Edinburgh’s economy as many people no doubt travelled here for the RBS 6Nations.

“Strong performances in both our domestic and international traffic helped drive our growth last month with new services launching to Madeira with easyJet, increased flights to Dublin with Ryanair and larger aircraft operating between Edinburgh and Paris on AirFrance’ HOP! route. 

“We have a number of routes operating which weren’t in place last year and this has also helped drive our passenger numbers. Qatar Airlines, which launched last May, are delivering over 7000 more passengers than we had last February.

“We’re looking forward to a busy few months as we prepare to welcome even more new airlines to Edinburgh. Of course we can only continue to drive passenger growth and our economy if our calls to reduce and abolish Air Passenger Duty are answered. 

“The report we published earlier this this week shows that a 50% reduction in this damaging tax would create almost 4000 jobs and add £1 billion to the Scottish economy by 2020.”