[JohnnyFive]

I looked for a thread related Edinburgh Airport developments but could not see one.

It appears that Incheon International Airport Corp. is mulling a bid for Edinburgh Airport and is one among other potential bids.

I have to say the prospect of direct routes into Asia would be excellent.

Edinburgh airport, offered for sale by BAA Ltd., has attracted interest from Korea’s biggest hub, while half a dozen financial firms including JPMorgan Chase & Co. may bid, according to people with knowledge of the auction.

Incheon International Airport Corp. is mulling an offer for the Edinburgh terminal, which BAA is selling to meet antitrust requirements, and may form a bid group with Korean institutions, Chief Executive Officer Lee Chae-Wook said in an interview.

JPMorgan’s infrastructure fund is also considering a bid for Scotland’s busiest airport, which analysts reckon may fetch 600 million pounds ($930 million), said a person familiar with the plan who declined to be named because the sale is private. Rival bids may be led by Carlyle Group, Global Infrastructure Partners Ltd. and 3i Infrastructure Plc, other people said.

“Edinburgh has a relatively wealthy catchment area and that makes it an attractive asset,” said Douglas McNeill, a transport analyst at Charles Stanley in London. “It’s a big tourist centre and the financial industry there has held up pretty well.”

Opened in 1977, Edinburgh has two runways, one terminal and serves more than 100 destinations. The airport, which boosted passenger numbers 8.2 percent to 8.8 million in the first 11 months of 2011, is being sold after BAA, also the owner of London’s Heathrow hub, lost an appeal against a breakup ordered by the U.K. Competition Commission.

“We don’t just want to invest, that’s what financial companies do,” Incheon’s Lee said today in an interview at Asia’s third-busiest airport for international flights. “We are more interested in operating the airport.”

http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...-lures-koreans-jpmorgan-said-to-mull-bid.html

:banana:

 

[Ultima]

Good news! Edinburgh will be a key terminal once Scotland is independent

 

[RapidTaco]

Good news! Edinburgh will be a key terminal once Scotland is independent

Edinburgh (and Glasgow) are already key airports for Scotland. However, independence or not, there are only 5.1 million people in Scotland and IMO we can only grow air routes finitely. I'd suggest that any new routes which are announced, for example to China or the Middle East will be at the expense of feeder routes to the likes of Heathrow, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Paris CDG etc. It depends on how you look at things, direct routes are great to have but the feeder routes into the main hubs are equally important for the wide range of destinations on offer.

 

[Ahhhh]

Edinburgh (and Glasgow) are already key airports for Scotland. However, independence or not, there are only 5.1 million people in Scotland and IMO we can only grow air routes finitely. I'd suggest that any new routes which are announced, for example to China or the Middle East will be at the expense of feeder routes to the likes of Heathrow, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Paris CDG etc. It depends on how you look at things, direct routes are great to have but the feeder routes into the main hubs are equally important for the wide range of destinations on offer.

Sorry, I don't want to sound like a bitch here, you may very well be quite correct. But cities/countries like Copenhagen/Denmark are small like us, how come they can develop hubs and we can't? It always seemed to me that the best way to serve your own economy would be to try really hard to develop a lot of transit traffic so that your own population could piggy back on all those extra routes it could help to support. Isn't that what Dubai/Doha etc. have been doing.

Sometimes I just feel like we've developed a really unambitious culture that says that we should only provide the infrastructure for what is already required - other countries seem to be able to use infrastructure invesment to create rather than just to serve.

 

[RapidTaco]

Sorry, I don't want to sound like a bitch here, you may very well be quite correct. But cities/countries like Copenhagen/Denmark are small like us, how come they can develop hubs and we can't? It always seemed to me that the best way to serve your own economy would be to try really hard to develop a lot of transit traffic so that your own population could piggy back on all those extra routes it could help to support. Isn't that what Dubai/Doha etc. have been doing.

Sometimes I just feel like we've developed a really unambitious culture that says that we should only provide the infrastructure for what is already required - other countries seem to be able to use infrastructure invesment to create rather than just to serve.

Nowt wrong with being ambitious! The only issue with what you suggest is that both Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports are too small to be a hub and they are very constrained in how they can expand. What Scotland should be doing is ditching both airports and creating one mega airport probably just to the north east of Glasgow which would have excellent road and rail links into it.

 

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Doesn't Dublin airport have nearly 20 million pax off a single runway? I guess it's slightly different in that they don't have a land border with England but it's a model that Scotland could aspire too. I imagine a national airline will evolve once Scotland achieves independence.

 

[Ahhhh]

I am fairly strongly of the opinion that the lack of development of our airports are more due to the cultural acceptance of London funnelling than any actual, real, natural, or intrinsic reason.

 

[Ultima]

I am fairly strongly of the opinion that the lack of development of our airports are more due to the cultural acceptance of London funnelling than any actual, real, natural, or intrinsic reason.

If the money's there it'll happen. You're right though. It's the "everything to London" factor.

 

[outragedfalkirk]

I think there should be one mega airport in Scotland. This would bring in all sorts of development opportunities which we just don't have at the moment . The main problem at the moment is its not seen as a priority , plus the finance isn't there, unless it comes from some mega-investor like Incheon International Airport Corp

 

[Ahhhh]

I think there should be one mega airport in Scotland. This would bring in all sorts of development opportunities which we just don't have at the moment . The main problem at the moment is its not seen as a priority , plus the finance isn't there, unless it comes from some mega-investor like Incheon International Airport Corp

Fingers crossed

 

[IKEN]

Short stay outdoor car park will be upgraded before the end of the year.

 

[david_gla]

Edinburgh Airport changes hands to Global Infrastructure Partners

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-18287180

The owner of Gatwick and London City airport has formally taken ownership of Edinburgh Airport in a £807m deal.

The airport was sold in April to Global Infrastructure Partners, after the Competition Commission ruled BAA had to sell either Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Former managing director of Edinburgh Airport, Gordon Dewar, has been appointed chief executive officer.

Mr Dewar is currently CEO of Bahrain International Airport and will rejoin the team at Edinburgh in the summer.

The airport's current managing director, Jim O'Sullivan, has agreed to continue in his role until then.

Edinburgh Airport refused to say what post Mr O'Sullivan was moving to.

Michael McGhee, Global Infrastructure Partners partner, said: "Gordon is an outstanding airport executive, with relevant experience of Edinburgh Airport.

"We are pleased to have secured his return and look forward to supporting him and his team as they begin the important job of establishing Edinburgh Airport as a more dynamic, competitive player in the global aviation industry.

He added: "It is important to acknowledge the important role played by current airport managing director, Jim O'Sullivan, who has steered his team through the sale process with the highest levels of professionalism and focus.

"He will leave Edinburgh Airport in good shape, and with our best wishes."

Gordon Dewar, who was managing director of Edinburgh Airport between 2008 and 2010, said: "Edinburgh is my home city, and I am excited to be returning to one of the most important jobs in the capital.

"The challenge of leading the airport and the team into a new era of competition and growth is an irresistible one, and very different to the role I once played in BAA.

"Edinburgh Airport's future, its plans and its identity, will all be shaped in Edinburgh, and our decisions will only be influenced by what is good for Edinburgh Airport, and the city and country we serve."

Mr Dewar's daughter, Olivia Dewar, 17, was killed when she was hit by a car in the village of Saar in Bahrain in December 2010.

She had moved to Bahrain in August 2010 when her father became Bahrain Airport's chief executive.

Sir John Elvidge, chairman of Edinburgh Airport, said: "Today represents the opening of a new, exciting chapter in the history of Scotland's capital city airport.

"We don't expect to change overnight, but we have an excellent, supportive owner and a world-class management team, each of us is determined to raise Scotland's profile around the world, connect Edinburgh with more destinations, and provide passengers with a great experience and more choice."

 

[maccoinnich]

Brussels Airlines launching flights to Edinburgh. Good for Star Alliance connections.

 

[RapidTaco]

Brussels Airlines launching flights to Edinburgh. Good for Star Alliance connections.

Replaces the service lost by bmi's demise. Good to see the route being continued.

 

[maccoinnich]

Actually, it looks like that flight is continuing too, under the new owners of BMI-regional. They've been remarkably silent about what their plans are for the new airline.

 

[RapidTaco]

Actually, it looks like that flight is continuing too, under the new owners of BMI-regional. They've been remarkably silent about what their plans are for the new airline.

Dunno, I'm hearing the old bmi route is for the chop. Either way, the wont both survive on that route, not with Ryanscare on the Charleroi too

 

[Kenspeckle]

Easyjet's Edinburgh Airport expansion promises jobs boost

BBC News, 30th August 2012

One hundred jobs could be brought to Edinburgh after Easyjet announced plans to base two more aircraft at the capital's airport.

The airline already has five planes based in Edinburgh, flying to 24 destinations, and carrying 2.5 million passengers in the past 12 months.

It has not yet decided where the additional aircraft will fly to.

The choice of destinations will be announced in October after discussions with other agencies.

Hugh Aitken, Easyjet's commercial manager for Scotland, told BBC Radio Scotland: "We are doing something quite unique, we're starting to talk to a lot of our partners, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland and others about where they see the opportunities, where they see the markets that are underserved or have potential to grow in and out of Scotland and how they can support us with that."

He hinted that the destinations would be European. "Absolutely, that's our foot print", he said.

Mr Aitken agreed that Edinburgh had great "inbound potential".

He added: "On some of our routes well over 50% of the people are coming in to Scotland - so that's about tourists coming in to Scotland and visiting the country. You can imagine there will be other places with the potential to bring people to Scotland".

However he explained that the airline would also be looking at outbound destinations "that need new capacity brand new or other areas with potential to grow".

"It's about connecting Scottish businesses and leisure travellers with where they want to go to and flying directly rather than having to go through the hub airports," he said.

At the moment, Easyjet does not fly to or from Heathrow and Mr Aitken claimed there was "a real preoccupation with Heathrow".

Mr Aitken said: "Everybody talks about any loss of capacity at Heathrow being bad for Scotland.

"In our view we fly to London Luton, Stansted, Gatwick which very often if you're doing business in London it's quicker to fly to those airports than it is to fly to Heathrow plus given that Heathrow is over 90% full, when things go wrong they go wrong very badly."

The airline said although it was investing in Edinburgh it was not ignoring Glasgow and had increased capacity there and introduced new routes over the past year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-19420055

 

[Kenspeckle]

Edinburgh Airport becomes first Scottish pet passport hub

BBC News, 4th September, 2012

Scots who take their pets abroad can now fly them directly back into the country rather than shipping them via England.

It follows the launch of the new border inspection post at Edinburgh Airport.

Freight forwarding company Extrordinair has started operating Scotland's first approved "PETS" Animal Reception Centre at Edinburgh Airport.

Owners with dogs, cats or ferrets under the EU Pet Travel Scheme can now touch down in Edinburgh.

The move allows owners and breeders to fly their pets directly to and from Scotland, previously they had to arrive at the UK's only approved animal centres in London or Manchester.

Sylvia Fleming, managing director of Extrordinair, said: "Our new facility at Edinburgh Airport means that animals flying into Scotland can be reunited with their owners within hours of touchdown, provided that they have a valid Pet Passport or EU third country Health Certificate and comply with DEFRA regulations.

"The service makes things much easier for owners and for pets, as a prolonged period of travel/separation in a strange environment can cause them stress."

Edinburgh Airport chief executive, Gordon Dewar said: "More than nine million passengers travel through Edinburgh Airport every year, and we're constantly looking at how we can offer them more choice.

"We know it's been an inconvenience for passengers to have to travel to England first when they're bringing their pets back to the country so we've worked with Extrordinair to set up Scotland's first small animal border inspection post to give them the option of transporting small animals directly to the capital."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-19466122

 

[Kenspeckle]

International flights on cards if Virgin wins short-haul routes

Edinburgh Evening News, 7th September 2012

Virgin Atlantic will look to roll out international flights from Edinburgh if it is successful in bidding for short-haul routes between the Capital and Heathrow.

The company has suggested it would consider following a similar model to Glasgow, where it now runs hugely successful routes between Scotland and Orlando, Florida.

And chief executive Steve Ridgway said Virgin wanted to connect Edinburgh to Heathrow in order to open up routes to locations such as South Africa and India.

Mr Ridgeway also warned that fares between Edinburgh and Heathrow would rise and flights be further reduced unless a second airline was allowed to compete with British Airways over the route.

Virgin Atlantic yesterday confirmed it had bid for new short-haul services between Heathrow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen and met with first minister Alex Salmond for talks over the move to Scotland.

“Virgin Atlantic is offering to bring a very strong brand and a very strong reputation to Edinburgh and Aberdeen and create a second choice, to connect these key cities to our network in Heathrow,” said Mr Ridgway.

“This is about connecting people in Scotland and Edinburgh with the rest of the world. We’re not really selling Edinburgh-Heathrow, we’re selling Edinburgh-Shanghai, or Edinburgh-Delhi or Edinburgh-Cape Town.”

Although the firm plans to focus on short-haul flights it eventually intends to roll out more international flights. In Glasgow, where it operates long-haul only, it began with six flights per year to Florida and extended to its current 66.

EU officials will make a decision on the London routes in November with a second 
airline option operating from next spring. Aer Lingus is also bidding for the route.

International Airlines Group – which owns British Airways – took over regional carrier British Midland International in April but was forced to surrender bmi’s routes in Edinburgh and Aberdeen due to competition laws.

Mr Ridgway said: “Along with Edinburgh, British Airways is the sole operator in Glasgow and as a result the number of services has already dropped and fares have risen.

“We know from speaking to the First Minister and the transport minister that they are very worried about the 
current situation.

Mr Ridgway added that the trams – due in summer 2014 – are important to Edinburgh Airport’s growth.

He added: “It’s going to make Edinburgh airport better and stronger. It’s all about connecting to the centre and having an efficient transport 
network.”

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/transport/international-flights-on-cards-if-virgin-wins-short-haul-routes-1-2513066

 

[Kenspeckle]

Easyjet to launch six new flights from Edinburgh

BBC News, 11th October, 2012

Easyjet has announced six new routes from Edinburgh Airport.

The new services are to Berlin and Hamburg in Germany, Prague in the Czech Republic, Copenhagen in Denmark and Dubrovnik in Croatia.

The company announced another new route, to Reykjavik in Iceland, last week.

The budget airline sought advice from VisitScotland, Marketing Edinburgh and the business community to see where the flights should go.

The company claims the move will bring 160 new jobs along with an estimated 500 indirect jobs in Scotland.

The number of planes at it base in the capital will increase from five to seven.

The firm said the new routes would bring 140,000 more passengers to the city, which would benefit the economy by almost £90m.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The new direct links with some of the world's most exciting destinations will open up fresh inward investment opportunities and strengthen existing ties with the likes of Germany and Scandinavia.

"This is a major endorsement and vote of confidence in Edinburgh and Scotland, and we are working behind the scenes to deliver even more direct routes."

Hugh Aitken, Easyjet's head of Scotland, said: "I'm confident our new 2013 schedule will really appeal to people travelling to and from Scotland both on business and for leisure and will further bolster Edinburgh's world-famous appeal for tourists."

Mike Cantlay, VisitScotland Chairman, said: "We are delighted to be working with Easyjet to help bring valuable new capacity to Edinburgh's route network.

"Scotland's connectivity is key to its success in attracting the lucrative leisure and business travellers which fuel a Scottish tourism industry worth over £11bn."

Gordon Dewar, chief executive, Edinburgh Airport, said: "Edinburgh Airport is committed to extending Scotland's reach across Europe and the world and we will do this by working in partnership with leading airlines like Easyjet.

"Today's announcement is hugely exciting for Scottish aviation by relinking Edinburgh with Berlin and Reykjavik and adding fantastic new destinations such as Hamburg and Prague.

"I'm sure these new routes will boost business and leisure travel to and from Scotland underlining aviation's key role in our economy."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-19908611