Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[News Guru]

Slower growth expected in new Edinburgh Airport masterplan

Edinburgh Airport has scaled back on its expansion plans, saying there is no need to consider a second runway for another 20 years because of slower than expected growth in passenger numbers. However, even at current growth rates it said new aircraft hangars and stands would soon be required. The airport's comments came as it unveiled a new draft masterplan, which lays out its development plans until 2040.

BAA has recently completed a £40m expansion and upgrade of the airport, which is sufficient for up to 13 million passengers per year, as in its previous plan released in 2006 the airport had expected to reach this passenger figure by 2013. However, it does not now expect to reach that number before 2020.

In the shorter term, the masterplan forecasts passenger numbers will grow from 9 million now to 12.3 million a year in 2020, with aircraft movements increasing from 116,200 to 141,300. New aircraft hangars and stands will be built to allow for that growth, while transport facilities at the airport and to the site will be improved. The airport said the projected developments would be largely within existing boundaries.

The masterplan estimates passenger numbers could increase to 20.5 million per year by 2040, with more than half travelling to and from international destinations. Aircraft movements could also increase to 200,600 per year.

Kevin Brown, managing director of Edinburgh Airport, said that it will be consulting as widely as possible on its masterplan over the next few months. He said: ‘‘The masterplan is our vision for our airport, the blueprint for its development over the coming years. It is a document that shows Edinburgh Airport, as Scotland's busiest airport, playing a crucial role in the growth and prosperity of Edinburgh, the Lothians and Scotland as a whole.'

'Ours is a sustainable and responsible plan, grounded in the reality of our post-recession economy and keen to capitalise on the opportunities that will arise when our economy begins to grow again. It is important for us therefore to test our plans and provide clarity, certainty and understanding to local communities, local authorities and wider business and tourism interests whose futures depend very much on a strong, successful and well-connected airport.’

A 14-week public consultation exercise on the draft plans has been launched, after which a final masterplan will be drawn up. There is a dedicated website for the masterplan at www.edimasterplan.co.uk. Public meetings, face-to-face briefings and written formal responses will also be part of the consultation.

Source

 

[Aviador]

£80 million investment plan for Edinburgh Airport

• Buiilding a new extension to Edinburgh Airport’s terminal building is the start of an £80 million investment plan to help the airport handle forecasted record number of passengers.

Work has started on the three-story extension which will stretch out from the existing gate 12 area, covering the old east end service yard out to the Gogar Burn.

The expansion is part of the airport’s £220m+ capital investment programme to support growth and maintain operational standards over the next five years.

The expansion is due to be completed by summer 2018 and will see the South East Pier extended to create new boarding gates and seating areas between gates 13 and 14.

Designed to support forecasted growth of up to 16.5million passengers in 2021 and beyond, it will provide:

• Extended immigration, customs and international reclaim facilities
• A new home for our domestic reclaim hall, enabling the expansion of our baggage hall into the current domestic reclaim area
• New retail opportunities, food and beverage options, toilets, lettable property and office space, VIP lounges, and retail storage
• 6 new gates, gate seating areas and connectivity via a series of fixed links, stair nodes and air bridges to the new stands

Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport Gordon Dewar said:

“This is a major investment for the capital and Scotland and further establishes Edinburgh Airport as one of the most innovative and forward thinking airports in the UK.

“We are Scotland’s busiest airport and the fastest growing airport in the UK – and that demand is only going to grow with the record numbers of passengers we expect to see passing through the terminal.

“There have been times this summer where we’ve experienced busy periods that have impacted on our service and this investment in new facilities will ensure we have the infrastructure needed to handle more passengers and provide them with a positive experience whether arriving or departing.

“As Scotland’s gateway to the world, it’s vital that we have first class infrastructure and we will continue to invest in that, creating more jobs, supporting the economy and opening up Scotland to the world.”

Edinburgh Airport Press Release

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Oops, they got it wrong in 2011 when they scaled back their previous projection of 13 mppa by 2013 to 12.3 mppa by 2020.

They are on the cusp of 13 million now so the original projection was nearer the mark after all. Shows how difficult - near impossible - it is to forecast airport passenger numbers correctly over even as relatively short a period as a decade.

 

[jfy1999]

Image from The Scotsman of a planned £6m taxi rank for EDI.

 

[Jetsco]

Terminal Improvements

Could an announcement be imminent? Sources suggesting plans exist to expand taxi-ways, concrete grass area between terminal and cargo area. New gates with air bridges also form part of the plans. Not clear if new gates will be at existing east pier or a new pier. An existing master plan do show a new pier stretching north. This would make sense if the plan is to concrete large grass area towards the cargo stands. This I assume would be the new access to the existing east pier.

 

[Ginga]

I’ve noticed that all departures out of Edinburgh are departing from taxiway C, has the runway surface deteriorated before the threshold of 24?

 

[diamond geezer]

They're landing in the other direction today but seem to be using the full length. The following NOTAM may be to do some works to address whatever was causing the issue you noticed yesterday:

Q) EGPX/QMRLC/IV/NBO /A /000/999/5557N00322W
A) EGPH
B) 23/07/27 02:00 C) 23/07/27 04:15
E) RWY 06/24 CLSD DUE WIP

 

[Jetsco]

They're landing in the other direction today but seem to be using the full length. The following NOTAM may be to do some works to address whatever was causing the issue you noticed yesterday:

Q) EGPX/QMRLC/IV/NBO /A /000/999/5557N00322W
A) EGPH
B) 23/07/27 02:00 C) 23/07/27 04:15
E) RWY 06/24 CLSD DUE WIP

The brakes on the heavies will be smokin….

 

[Jetsco]

US Pre-clearance

Pre-clearance from EDI appears to be very much on the owners radar. I’m hearing that EDI is increasingly confident that the airport will be chosen to pilot a simplified pre-clearance program.

After Covid shocks, Capital's airport is flying even higher as it welcomes visitors to Scotland

Edinburgh Airport is in advanced discussions to set up a Preclearance hub in the Capital for travellers to the US and awaits a Congressional visit from Florida to confirm this next month

www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk

 

[gulftraveller]

Makes little sense given US passenger numbers involved, particularly in winter. Gatwick makes much more sense given that a much higher percentage of passengers are non US passport holders.

 

[Jetsco]

Makes little sense given US passenger numbers involved, particularly in winter. Gatwick makes much more sense given that a much higher percentage of passengers are non US passport holders.

EDI have a far larger portfolio of US routes. With respect, I don’t think LGW is a good example. One of the benefits of pre-clearance, according to management is the opportunities to land more new routes and expand year-round offerings. Air Canada have gone year round from seasonal. I’m led to believe W23 bookings are very strong.

 

[diamond geezer]

Makes little sense given US passenger numbers involved, particularly in winter. Gatwick makes much more sense given that a much higher percentage of passengers are non US passport holders.

Why is the airport bothering with it if it makes little sense?

 

[Viscount]

If they end up with this it will open up the airport to new us routes like Lax
They already have 7 US route with a possibility of 2 more next year
apparently most flights are very busy
Plus if they get this then people will travel from other area just to get the pre clearance or even come in from the mainland of Europe

sent from i phone

 

[Coathanger16]

In terms of numbers Gatwick handles about 2-3 times as many US passengers as Edinburgh. Manchester also handles 40% more than Edinburgh.

On a passengers per route basis, Gatwick and Manchester have roughly the same, whilst Edinburgh is about half of LGW/MAN.

PBC these days isn't as big a thing as a lot of people make it out to be IMO. I flew to Chicago last September and Immigration took at most 30 minutes and that was after being the last off a full A380 (flight deck visit) with other flights having arrived as well.

I'm not sure how much of the cost of installing and running PBC EDI would contribute, but it'd likely be better spent elsewhere - US passengers accounted for just 3% of Edinburgh's total in 2022.

I can't personally see it leading to new routes. If EDI gets PBC, and then gets a new US route, that route would likely have happened regardless.

 

[gulftraveller]

If they end up with this it will open up the airport to new us routes like Lax
They already have 7 US route with a possibility of 2 more next year
apparently most flights are very busy
Plus if they get this then people will travel from other area just to get the pre clearance or even come in from the mainland of Europe

sent from i phone

I very much doubt it would encourage an influx of new airlines and I wonder whether EDI has the space for it. I agree with Coathanger that any new route would happen regardless. It is interesting that LGW in the past, and MAN, have said they are not interested despite being more suited to PBC.

PBC works in a hub and spoke airport with a resident airline.

I assume that Mr Dewar wants a PR win.

 

[diamond geezer]

It is interesting that LGW in the past, and MAN, have said they are not interested despite being more suited to PBC.

It's even more interesting that LGW is planning pre-clearance too:

Edinburgh Airport posted on LinkedIn

Edinburgh Airport posted images on LinkedIn

uk.linkedin.com

After Covid shocks, Capital's airport is flying even higher as it welcomes visitors to Scotland

Edinburgh Airport is in advanced discussions to set up a Preclearance hub in the Capital for travellers to the US and awaits a Congressional visit from Florida to confirm this next month

www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk

It is interesting that LGW in the past, and MAN, have said they are not interested despite being more suited to PBC.

It's even more interesting that LGW is planning pre-clearance too

Edinburgh Airport posted on LinkedIn

Edinburgh Airport posted images on LinkedIn

uk.linkedin.com

After Covid shocks, Capital's airport is flying even higher as it welcomes visitors to Scotland

Edinburgh Airport is in advanced discussions to set up a Preclearance hub in the Capital for travellers to the US and awaits a Congressional visit from Florida to confirm this next month

www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk

I'm not sure how much of the cost of installing and running PBC EDI would contribute, but it'd likely be better spent elsewhere - US passengers accounted for just 3% of Edinburgh's total in 2022.

I can't personally see it leading to new routes. If EDI gets PBC, and then gets a new US route, that route would likely have happened regardless.

The airport have costed the physical works at around £3m (source below). By your logic that would be a waste of money if any new routes to the US that launch after any pre-clearance facility is built are routes that "would likely have happened regardless". Why would an airport funded by private equity spend such sums for no benefit?

Do you not concede that it is at least possibile that the airport have discussed the prospect of providing pre-clearance with their current and potential future US airline customers? And that the response from those discussions has given the airport the encouragement that the additional revenue they would gain from new routes launched (and additional capacity on existing routes) as a result of pre-clearance outweighs the expense such that a business case can be made to work and the airport considers it worth progressing with the plans?

https://pnl1-word-view.officeapps.live.com/wv/mWord.aspx?ui=en%2DGB&rs=en%2DGB&WOPISrc=http%3A%2F%2Fpnl1%2Dview%2Dwopi%2Ewopi%2Eonline%2Eoffice%2Enet%3A808%2Foh%2Fwopi%2Ffiles%2F%40%2FwFileId%3FwFileId%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fassets%252Ectfassets%252Enet%253A443%252F2hwzhse7szu0%252F1JKMSdNk4Kev4GyU55edA6%252Fb9c71635bdc99e388f45eef8c2348a94%252F2023%255FQ2%255FEACC%255Freport%252Edocx&access_token_ttl=0&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK&hid=dad8c065-6aa1-40d4-8e75-f4acd8e3aabe&access_token=1&wdMobileHost=2

 

[Coathanger16]

The airport have costed the physical works at around £3m (source below). By your logic that would be a waste of money if any new routes to the US that launch after any pre-clearance facility is built are routes that "would likely have happened regardless". Why would an airport funded by private equity spend such sums for no benefit?

Do you not concede that it is at least possibile that the airport have discussed the prospect of providing pre-clearance with their current and potential future US airline customers? And that the response from those discussions has given the airport the encouragement that the additional revenue they would gain from new routes launched (and additional capacity on existing routes) as a result of pre-clearance outweighs the expense such that a business case can be made to work and the airport considers it worth progressing with the plans?

Firstly, I didn't say it was a waste of money or would have zero benefit. Just that for only 4% of Edinburgh's passenger throughput, perhaps there are better things to spend £3m on.

Secondly, if PBC is so fantastic for securing new routes to the US, then there would be more than 3 airports outside of North America with it.

If PBC is required to make a particular service viable, the risk therefore is that if the US were in the future to withdraw that facility, the route would no longer be viable. Airports should be pursuing routes that stand on their own and are viable come what may.

 

[diamond geezer]

Firstly, I didn't say it was a waste of money or would have zero benefit. Just that for only 4% of Edinburgh's passenger throughput, perhaps there are better things to spend £3m on.

Secondly, if PBC is so fantastic for securing new routes to the US, then there would be more than 3 airports outside of North America with it.

If PBC is required to make a particular service viable, the risk therefore is that if the US were in the future to withdraw that facility, the route would no longer be viable. Airports should be pursuing routes that stand on their own and are viable come what may.

BRU intends having a pre-clearance facility next year, so they presumably think it is worthwhile:

New airport procedure for visitors to US

Passengers travelling to the US will go through the checks at Zaventem that would normally take place at their destination.

www.brusselstimes.com

 

[Jetsco]

Surely pre-clearance is a win win. EDI management will have done their homework. They clearly believe it is worth the expenditure. The opportunity to increase connectivity with new routes. The ambition to have more year-round services. If Air Canada believe it is viable to operate 3 x weekly off season, surely an American carrier could be convinced to, for example, do similar with IAD or ATL. The airlines also save time and money if the aircraft arrive at domestic gates.

 

[Aviador]

Any reasonable expectations for what 2024 may bring (beyond things already announced)? Some more capacity to the Middle East? An Indian or additional Asian destination? Some more based Ryanair? The year could also see growth at GLA outstripping EDI (especially if Ryanair reopen a base at GLA). New owners of either or both could see a change in their respective fortunes.

Did I read somewhere on here about EDI currently having some terminal constraints which could potentially hamper growth?