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A record year

Posted: 23rd January 2020

A total of 14,747,830 people travelled through Edinburgh Airport last year, making 2019 the busiest in the airport’s history and the busiest ever year for a Scottish airport.

The numbers are up 3.1% on 2018 with growth in international passengers driving the increase.

e up 3.1% on 2018 with growth in international passengers driving the increase.

FY 2019 % vs Last Year
Domestic 5,338,511 -0.7%
International 9,409,319 5.3%
Total 14,747,830 3.1%

The figures follow a rise in passenger numbers for December:

Dec % vs Last Year
Domestic 396,298 -8.9%
International 652,647 10.2%
Total 1,048,945 2.1%

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said:

“We’re delighted to deliver a record year for any Scottish airport as passengers continued to take advantage of new routes, new airlines and the opportunity to expand their horizons and travel the world.

“We never lose sight of the fact that the airport is a conduit to a whole host of things. We play our part in tourism, business, education, research and culture. We are that gateway to Scotland and the world, and direct connectivity to countries across the world plays a huge part in that success.

“Clearly, we want to see that success continue to benefit Edinburgh and Scotland and travel will always be a part of that, but we do have a responsibility to manage that success in a sustainable manner. We appreciate that we need to show leadership in this area and we are currently finalising a strategy which will map out our approach to operations at Edinburgh to make them even more sustainable than they already are. We look forward to sharing that strategy and engaging with our communities on it.

“Finally, I would like to thank all staff across campus who worked to make this a record year for Edinburgh Airport. We all play a part in the journey of our passengers and it is that team approach which helps us to deliver the many big days that are experienced every day.”

Business Comment

Business Comment is the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s bi-monthly magazine. It provides insight on Edinburgh’s vibrant business community, with features on the city’s key sectors, interviews with leading figures and news on new business developments in the capital.
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