Plans are underway to expand the routes Edinburgh Airport provides, making it easier to travel to more destinations from Edinburgh Airport.
Edinburgh Airport Chief Executive Gordon Dewar says these plans form part of a larger aim to further Edinburgh Airport’s reach and revenue.
Edinburgh Airport, Scotland’s busiest airport, welcomed a staggering 14.4 million visitors last year. However, Mr Dewar is not resting on his laurels. He envisions a future where the airport’s visitor count surpasses 15 million, with a significant contribution from North American and Chinese tourists.
Currently, there are 152 destinations provided by 35 airlines. The route expansion will increase the destinations offered and amount of airlines flying to and from Edinburgh.
JetBlue will launch its first Scottish service from Edinburgh to New York. WestJet has added Toronto and Halifax, United Airlines made its service to New York year-round, and Hainan increased its Beijing season by nine weeks.
This can make it easier for international students from these countries to travel to and from their native countries to the Scottish universities they study at. It is hoped that it will also attract more revenues, boosting its income for the city.
There are further plans to attract increasing numbers of visitors to Edinburgh Airport. One consideration is enabling a preclearance check in North America, meaning US customs in Edinburgh would check in in Scotland. This would allow passengers to leave their destination airport or transfer more easily.
In a significant step towards sustainability, a solar farm at the airfield now provides 27% of its energy needs.
“Edinburgh Airport Flybe departure” by NATS – UK air traffic control is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.