Edinburgh Airport set for £40m investment

BAA has announced a £40 million investment package for Edinburgh Airport which it claims could turn the Scottish gateway into one of the leading aviation hubs in Europe.

The operator, which also owns Aberdeen Airport and Glasgow Airport in Scotland, revealed plans for a terminal extension that would increase capacity and provide a wider range of shops, restaurants and bars for passengers.

A purpose-built security area equipped with 14 X-ray machines will enable the airport to handle up to 13 million passengers a year.

The £40 million investment in Edinburgh Airport is the first stage of a £100 million financing package which BAA claims will be delivered at no cost to the Scottish taxpayer.

Gordon Dewar, the airport's managing director, said: "This BAA investment is a significant vote of confidence in Edinburgh Airport. It will help stimulate the local economy and create or support hundreds of jobs at what is obviously a difficult time for the airline industry and for the wider economy.

"Edinburgh Airport is an economic asset of national importance, sustaining our vital tourist industry and supporting many thousands of jobs across the capital, and across Scotland."

The airport, which hosts flights to destinations including Amsterdam, Dublin and Paris, handled nearly nine million passengers last year, compared to 4.5 million in 1998.

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