‘Shoddy’ city airport ‘needs major overhaul’ after sale

By Nathalie Thomas
Published on Sunday 29 January 2012 00:00

INVESTORS eyeing Edinburgh Airport are drawing up proposals for another major facelift to improve efficiency and attract more long-haul flights less than two years after it benefited from a £40 million overhaul.

Potential bidders for the airport, which is expected to attract offers in excess of £400m, say it requires further significant changes to areas such as security, access to the terminals, check-in and the departure lounges – even though current owner BAA already forked out £40m on an upgrade in 2010.

One potential bidder said many aspects of the airport’s design and operation were “shoddy” and considerable improvements would be needed, particularly if Scotland has ambitions to attract more long-haul carriers.

In 2010, finance minister John Swinney unveiled the new-look Edinburgh Airport, with an enlarged security hall and new shopping and eating facilities.

The prospectus for the sale was distributed to interested parties earlier this month and the first bids are expected in early February.

The Competition Commission, which is forcing Spanish-owned BAA to offload the airport, is keen to conclude the sale by the summer. It is likely to attract a large number of offers, and several names have already been connected to a potential bid.

Frontrunners are expected to include private equity group 3i, which is working with the Universities Superannuation Scheme and fund manager M&G; Gatwick and London City airports owner Global Infrastructure Partners; and a consortium involving Carlyle Group, Sir Angus Grossart and Sir Brian Souter.

As revealed by Scotland on Sunday, another Scottish consortium led by Ben Thomson, chairman of Inverleith Capital, and former Edinburgh Airport managing director Richard Jeffrey has lined up the finance for a potential bid, while representatives from JP Morgan’s infrastructure fund are understood to have travelled to Scotland earlier this month to sound out potential backers.

Arcus European Infrastructure Fund, the owner of Forth Ports, may also table an offer.

Comments

There are 7 comments to this article

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

7

Chesh29

Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:21 PM

Comment removed by moderator

6

ReprievedSoul

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:06 AM

CORRECT! EDI is a disgraceful layout - it was bad from the start and it's been worsened by eachoverpriced tinkering from BAA. The only worse effort is the disgraceful pedestrian access provision at Aberdeen Station rebuild. Which would indicate that somerthing's wrong with the public accountabiliorty of Scotland's transportation management?

• Report Unsuitable

5

Chesh29

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:09 PM

Comment removed by moderator

4

The Airman

Monday, January 30, 2012 at 02:49 PM

The recent runway extension at Aberdeen cost £10m for 124 metres of extra runway, so we are looking at a minimum £20m being taken off the price bid in order to allow for the extra 250m which the main runway (0624) , and extra for what might be needed in the terminals. The other headache is landside access, as the current road is not fit for purpose, and will be especially unfit for purpose once passenger loads hits 10m per annum, which they will in the next two years.

• Report Unsuitable

3

Chesh29

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Comment removed by moderator

2

mahatmacoat

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 10:02 AM

"considerable improvements would be needed, particularly if Scotland has ambitions to attract more long-haul carriers." And this will be factored into the price BAA are offered for EDI. Buyers will be too aware of the lack of large aircraft infrastructure. The end result enabling Edinburgh at last being be able to compete with Glasgow on a level playing field.

• Report Unsuitable

1

regalzone

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 09:29 AM

Never!

• Report Unsuitable

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

Logged in as:

Comment here. Start typing your comment here:

Post comment

Please adhere to our Community guidelines

Your view

Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.