Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport is an international airport located in the Ingliston area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It sits about 6 miles (9 km) west of the city center, close to the M8 and M9 motorways. The airport is owned and run by a company called Edinburgh Airport Limited.

In 2024, Edinburgh Airport was the busiest in Scotland, with over 15.8 million passengers flying from there. This was a 10% increase from the year before. Many airlines, totaling 35, use the airport to travel to more than 152 international places. Because of its high number of passengers, it is also the sixth busiest airport in the entire United Kingdom.

History

Early years

Main article: RAF Turnhouse

In 1916, Turnhouse Aerodrome opened as an important air base during World War I for the Royal Flying Corps. By 1918, it became part of the Royal Air Force and was named RAF Turnhouse.

From 1925, the base housed a small squadron with several types of light planes, all using a grass runway. When World War II began in 1939, the airfield was upgraded with a paved runway to support fighter planes. During the Battle of Britain, several RAF squadrons operated from the base.

Post-Second World War

After World War II, the airfield stayed under military control but opened for commercial flights on May 19, 1947. The first commercial flight was a service from London to Shetland, stopping in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

BAA ownership

In 1971, the British Airports Authority (BAA) took over the airport. The old terminal was very crowded, so plans were made for a new one. Work began in 1973, and the new terminal, designed by Sir Robert Matthew, opened in 1977 by Queen Elizabeth II.

International flights started in 1962 with a route to Dublin, but most were private or charter flights at first. By the late 1970s, direct flights reached cities like Amsterdam, and by the mid-1980s, destinations included Paris, Düsseldorf, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Copenhagen. By 1987, the airport handled over 1.8 million passengers each year.

GIP ownership

In 2013, plans were announced to extend the terminal to the Edinburgh Airport tram stop, which opened in May 2014. Though more passengers used the airport, there were fewer flights because planes were filled with more people. A major expansion adding new security and shopping areas was completed around this time.

VINCI ownership

On April 17, 2024, Vinci SA agreed to buy a majority share of the airport, finalizing the deal on June 25, 2024. By December 2024, Edinburgh Airport welcomed over 15 million passengers in one year, the first in Scotland to do so.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Many airlines fly regular trips to and from Edinburgh Airport.

Cargo

Statistics

Passenger numbers

Busiest routes

Ground transport

Several bus services connect Edinburgh Airport to different places. Companies like Ember go to cities such as Aberdeen and Inverness. Lothian Buses link the airport to Edinburgh itself. Scottish Citylink travels to Glasgow and other towns. There is also a coach park with more bus options.

The airport is close to major roads like the M8 motorway and M9 motorway, making it easy to reach by car.

Trams also serve the airport, running from Edinburgh city centre through the western suburbs to Leith and ending at Newhaven. While there isn’t a train station at the airport, the nearby Edinburgh Gateway station connects to trams and trains. A plan for a direct train link was stopped in 2007 because it became too expensive.