Edinburgh Airport growth driven by international traffic boost

An increase in travel to Europe and the Middle East helped fuel an 18 per cent growth in international passenger numbers at Edinburgh Airport last month.

Edinburgh Airport control tower. Picture: Michael Gillen

The airport saw total traveller numbers rise by 8.7 per cent in April to 1,009,529.

International traffic enjoyed the strongest performance, up 18.4 per cent, and now accounts for more than half of all the airport’s traffic.

Popular destinations included Berlin, Madrid, Doha and Abu Dhabi, while services to the US continued to perform well.

Domestic passenger numbers were, meanwhile, down 2.2 per cent.

Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said: “Edinburgh Airport’s international air services are the lifeblood of Scotland’s tourism industry and are offering better global connections for Scots businesses than ever before.

“The airport is an increasingly important social and economic asset, providing 23,000 jobs and economic output of around £1 billion.

“We look forward to working with others, in the city and in the Scottish Government and elsewhere, to build a sustainable, long-term plan for the future of this airport, potentially doubling the number of jobs here in the next few years.

“We will continue to advocate a halving of air passenger duty. It is a punitive tax on travel that restricts Scotland’s progress and punishes those who can least afford it.”

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