Tag: Edinburgh Airport

“None the wiser”: Green MSP concern over flight path plans confusion

Communities affected by Edinburgh Airport’s flight plan proposals must rally together to make the airport listen to their concerns, a Green MSP will tell a summit meeting at Holyrood tonight. Green MSP Mark Ruskell is hosting the Edinburgh Airport Watch meeting at the Scottish Parliament where 17 community councils from Fife, Edinburgh, the Lothians and Falkirk are expected to attend.

One of Ruskell’s main concerns is that in spite of the consultation closing in a few weeks (7 May), communities are still none the wiser as to “what the final routes will look like”. Continue reading “None the wiser”: Green MSP concern over flight path plans confusion

First impressions: Edinburgh becomes Scotland’s first ‘Provenance Airport’

edinburgh airport

Edinburgh Airport has signed the Scottish Food and Drink Pledge, making it Scotland’s first “Provenance Airport”. Local MSP Colin Keir has welcomed the announcement and says it shows the airport’s ambition to help promote the best of Scotland.

The initiative, which seeks to ensure that authentic, sustainable Scottish food and drink is available through the airport’s retail partners, has been welcomed by Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Airport.

Colin Keir MSP said: “This is fabulous news and it an important step by the airport as Edinburgh Airport as Scotland’s busiest airport is a premier gateway to Scotland. It is therefore appropriate that it seeks to showcase the range and quality of Scottish food and drink through its retail offer. They say that first impressions matter and this initiative shows the ambition of the airport to play its full part in promoting Scotland the brand.”

The Scottish Food and Drink Pledge comes after Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for food, Richard Lochhead wrote to transport hub operators across Scotland asking them to source more local produce.

Fight or flight: Johnstone congratulates community campaigns

Airport to end trial two months early following community pressure

edinburgh airport

Alison Johnstone has today congratulated local communities on their campaign success after the Edinburgh Airport announced it will close its controversial flight path trial two months earlier than originally planned.

Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian and Scottish Green Party candidate for Edinburgh Central, said: “I’d like to congratulate the community on their success in reducing the length of the reckless flight trial by two months. This is entirely due to sheer determination and their well organised and effective campaign.

“October will still feel like a long month for the community who have had to suffer negative health impacts and disruptive noise caused by the trial, but I am please the airport have recognised the need to listen and act. And end to this stressful situation is now in sight.

“The past few weeks have demonstrated how powerful Scotland’s communities can be, and lessons regarding the need for meaningful consultation have been learned. I look forward to working with constituents and the airport in the months ahead to ensure that the health and well-being of residents is central in all future proposals.”

Over one million passengers travelled through Edinburgh Airport last month, making it the busiest August on record for the airport and its fourth million plus passenger month in a row. A total of 1,158,794 people arrived and departed Edinburgh Airport in August, an increase of 8.7% on August 2014.

Kerr welcomes New York direct flights

‘ a real diamond route’ – Colin Keir MSP

edinburgh-airport

Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Western has welcomed the announcement by Delta Airlines/Virgin that their joint venture will launch a new Edinburgh to New York service from May 2016.

Mr Keir said: “All new routes from Edinburgh are welcome as they boost employment and tourism opportunities, something that is vital to the Edinburgh and wider Scottish economy.

“With direct flights to New York, Edinburgh will link with the most influential global financial centre. Add to this the tourism potential and it makes this a real diamond route.

“Well done to Edinburgh Airport CEO Gordon Dewar and his team for securing this route and to Delta and Virgin for identifying Edinburgh as a positive destination.”

MSP ‘delight’ at record month for Edinburgh Airport

Keir hails soaraway success

plane taking off

The news that over one million passengers used Edinburgh Airport in May has been warmly welcomed by Edinburgh Western Constituency MSP Colin Keir.

Mr Keir, who is also Convener of the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Aviation, said: “This is tremendous news once again from our city airport. It is vital to the economic growth of the city as well as the related jobs that come with having such a successful business. Obviously the new direct routes have given more choice and better deals for those travellers who use the airport which is great for tourism and great for business generally”.

“I’m pleased the airport management have accepted there have been problems with the security hall and that they are working towards a solution. If the airport wish to maintain a world class service with direct routes, the passenger experience has to maintain the same standard”.

Keir: control of APD ‘a gamechanger’ for Scotland

EdAirport

Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir has welcomed comments by a senior airlines executive that Air Passenger Duty (APD) is having an adverse effect on trade.

Following comments by David Thomas, a regional director of American Airlines, that Air Passenger Duty is ‘stifling demand’ on flights between Scotland and the United States, Colin Keir, Edinburgh Airport’s MSP, said: “Mr Thomas’s comments are most welcome and further validate our position that the Scottish Government must have control over Air Passenger Duty.

“As Edinburgh Airport’s recent report showed, reducing APD in Scotland by 50% will initially support 800 new jobs and create millions for the economy, is most welcome and must be taken seriously by the UK Government.

“The tourism tax, that is particularly damaging to Scottish airports, should be cut at once. Devolution of APD would be a game changer for Scottish airports.

“The Scottish Government has committed to cutting Air Passenger Duty once it is devolved and that responsibility cannot come soon enough for passengers and Scotland’s airports. Only a strong team of SNP MPs elected on May 7 will ensure Scotland gains the powers it has been promised – including APD – to create jobs and build a more prosperous and fairer country.”

Flying high: Keir welcomes APD report

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Colin Keir MSP has today welcomed a report by Edinburgh Airport that shows the gains of controlling and cutting Air Passenger Duty (APD) and calling for timetabling of the powers promised to Scotland.

The analysis backs the Scottish Government’s position and shows that the impact of reducing APD in Scotland by 50% will initially support around 800 new jobs and millions of pounds for the economy.

Colin Keir, the MSP for Edinburgh Airport said: “This excellent report by Edinburgh Airport, which shows that the impact of reducing APD in Scotland by 50% will initially support 800 new jobs and create millions for the economy, is most welcome and must be taken seriously by the UK Government.

“The tourism tax that is particularly damaging to Scottish airports – should be cut at once. Devolution of APD would be a game changer for Scottish airports.

“The Scottish Government has committed to cutting Air Passenger Duty once it is devolved and that responsibility cannot come soon enough for passengers and Scotland’s airports.

“Only a strong team of SNP MPs elected on May 7 will ensure Scotland gains the powers it has been promised – including APD – to create jobs and build a more prosperous and fairer country.”

Hot Air!

Keir hits out at UK Government’s inaction on aviation

planeEdinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir accused Westminster of treating Scotland’s air passengers ‘with contempt’ when PM David Cameron visited Edinburgh Airport yesterday. 

The Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed yesterday’s announcement of the £50 million redevelopment of the airport’s immigration and baggage reclaim facilities – a move that will triple capacity for bigger long-haul aircraft – but SNP MSP Colin Keir, whose Edinburgh Western constituency includes Edinburgh Airport, has hit out at the Prime Minister and his UK government coalition’s lack of action on aviation issues.

Mr Keir said: “Every long haul passenger arriving at Edinburgh Airport will appreciate this investment. I do find however the Prime Ministers audacity in welcoming investment into an industry which has been improving despite mismanagement from Westminster. The London Treasury has been fleecing travellers who fly through Scottish airports for years to the tune of millions of pounds thanks to Air Passenger Duty (APD). His government because of electoral reasons hasn’t made a decision regarding which airport in London will be upgraded to act as a modern UK hub. The effect of this is that when there is poor weather or emergencies its Scottish flights that are cancelled first because of space issues at Heathrow and Gatwick”.

“Travellers to and from Scotland deserve a better deal that’s why I commend the management at Edinburgh Airport in bringing more direct flights to the city. It is obvious the UK have done very little to improve the plight of those who have to use London such as local business people. Mr Cameron’s government cannot keep treating Scottish passengers with the contempt they have shown over the past years”.

expansion

The 50 million expansion to Scotland’s busiest airport will see Edinburgh triple its space for long-haul aircraft.

Edinburgh Airport, which currently handles 10 million passengers a year, will build a second baggage reclaim area and immigration hall to cater for hoped-for further growth in long-distance flights.

The work, which starts next week, will also include new stands for aircraft to park with ‘air bridges’ to link them to the terminal. The expansion will take four years and is expected to create up to fifty new jobs.

Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said: “The work we’ll be carrying out over the next four years will transform our airside facilities, tripling our capacity to handle bigger aircraft and paving the way for the next ten years of increased international connectivity.

“We’ll effectively be creating a new international facility for our airlines, and underpinning our future aspirations to increase passenger numbers, enhance their experience and be one of the leading European airports for our size.”

Keir welcomes airport’s record success

edinburgh airport2014 was another record-breaking year for Edinburgh Airport, with a total of 10,174,684 passengers flying from the airport over the year – a 4% increase on 2013. Colin Keir, MSP for Edinburgh Western constituency which includes Edinburgh Airport, welcomed the news and said the airport is a ‘global success story’.

The airport passed the historic 10 milion mark on 23 December.

Mr Keir said: “Despite difficult trading conditions, Scotland’s busiest airport continues to grow. Perhaps the most impressive statistic is the 89% rise in direct long haul flights. Along with the environmental advantages of direct flying the passenger gets a better deal by cutting down on the obscene Air Passenger Duty (APD) which they would be required to pay if they use another UK airport such as Heathrow.

“I’m delighted that passengers are voting with their feet and using this, one of the capital’s business assets. I am aware of the major financial investment made at the airport as well as the efforts of management and staff to produce a first class experience for travellers. When the airport works well it has a tremendous knock-on effect to the local and national business community and, with more direct flights, business and tourist travellers benefit through lower costs and faster journeys. I welcome today’s great news and congratulate everyone who is making Edinburgh airport a global success story.”