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Edinburgh Airport reveals major expansion plans

Edinburgh Airport has announced plans for a major expansion and begun a six-week public consultation on its masterplan for the next 25 years.

The masterplan, which sets out a framework for the sustainable development of the airport to match the growing demand for air travel to and from Edinburgh, has been launched to start a major public consultation to help finalise designs for the plans.

Proposals include extending the terminal building to create space for more passengers and facilities, creating a larger area for parking aircraft, expanding cargo storage and improving access to the airport by building a new link road to Gogar Roundabout.

The airport also plans to close its existing second runway, which it says is “not suitable for frequent use”, and is also safeguarding land for a new second runway, though the masterplan says that this will not be needed for regular use until around 2050.

Edinburgh Airport’s chief executive Gordon Dewar said: “At Edinburgh Airport our passenger numbers have grown more in the past three years than they did in the ten years previous. We’ve grown by one million passengers each year since 2012. We’ve grown our route network, serving more destinations and working with more airlines than ever.

“We believe that this growth is good for Scotland. An independent study that was carried out earlier this year gives evidence to that – the activity at the airport generates almost £1 billion per year for the Scottish economy while supporting over 23, 000 jobs. We also believe that growth will continue at Edinburgh Airport. 

“Fundamentally we’re an importer of people. So we concentrate not on the five million Scots that we serve but on the seven billion people across the globe that wish to enjoy what our great country has to offer. Scotland is a great product. Our growth is driven by that product. Edinburgh is Scotland’s attack brand; it leads the rest of the country and will continue to do so, whether in terms of tourism or business. Scotland itself has a great global draw.

“Edinburgh Airport is an enabler – a conduit for prosperity for all. But we also firmly believe that our growth is something that must be linked to, supported by and supportive of Edinburgh’s future development. That’s why this Masterplan document is so important. It sets out how we think we’ll grow in the decades to come and we’re asking some questions around that. Your views are important in making sure that our thinking is correct and that it fits with wider plans.”

A dedicated masterplan website is being set up to invite feedback and three consultation events are being held to gather public and stakeholder views.

Click here to download the masterplan document.

The Edinburgh Airport Masterplan 2016 is currently open to public consultation until 23 December 2016.

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