A million passengers used Edinburgh Airport last month
Over one million passengers travelled through Edinburgh Airport last month making it the busiest May on record for Scotland’s busiest airport.
There were increased in both domestic and international passenger numbers with international passengers up over 10% on the same month last year.
Over 570,000 international passengers travelled through the terminal in May an increase of almost 56,000 on May 2014.
Domestic passenger figures increased by 7.4% with 450,928 people travelling through the airport.
Growth in both domestic and international figures has been driven primarily by new routes which have been started within the last year. Increased frequencies on both Flybe and Ryanair London routes have boosted passenger numbers, as well as BA Cityflyer which now operates up to 12 times per day to London City.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “To see over one million passengers travelling through our airport last month is phenomenal and is a sure sign of a busy summer season.
“Increased capacity on routes to Paris, Basel, Lisbon and Madrid with easyJet, as well as Qatar Airways increasing their Doha service to daily at the beginning of May and the launch of the new American Airlines service to New York JFK have all meant more passengers through our doors.
“We know that over the last few months passengers have had to queue for longer than we’d like to get through security and in other parts of the terminal building. This isn’t what we want and we’re working hard to resolve this as quickly as possible.
The news that Edinburgh Airport has enjoyed increased passenger numbers has been warmly welcomed by Edinburgh Western Constituency MSP Colin Keir.
Mr Keir said: “This is tremendous news once again from our city airport. It is vital to the economic growth of the city as well as the related jobs that come with having such a successful business. Obviously the new direct routes have given more choice and better deals for those travellers who use the airport which is great for tourism and great for business generally”.
“I’m pleased the airport management have accepted there have been problems with the security hall and that they are working towards a solution. If the airport wish to maintain a world class service with direct routes, the passenger experience has to maintain the same standard”.