Edinburgh airport chief remains defiant over 'kiss and fly' fee as he prepares for departure

Published on Wednesday 28 July 2010 17:42

IT WAS billed as the official opening of the biggest development in Edinburgh airport's history.

•Outgoing Edinburgh airport managing director Gordon Dewar (right) chats with his successor Kevin Brown Picture: Jayne Emsley

But the question the media wanted to put to those leading the ceremony for the 41 million expansion was: what about the planned "kiss and fly" charge?

Finance secretary John Swinney, who had been invited to do the honours for the extended departure lounge and security screening hall, looked as if he couldn't get away fast enough when asked about the controversial scheme.

He acknowledged there were "concerns" about the proposal to charge drivers for dropping passengers at the terminal from October, and confirmed the proposal did not have Scottish Government support.

However, outgoing managing director Gordon Dewar remained uncompromising, declaring it was the right scheme, even if he left the airport on Friday as an unpopular man among passengers.

Kevin Brown, his successor, was noncommittal, stating that the issue was "one of the many things" he would have to look at after he takes over next week.

There was no reference to the charge during the formal event to officially open the terminal expansion, but all three men were asked about it following the speeches.

The departure lounge was opened to passengers last November, with the expanded security hall becoming operational yesterday to cut queues.

The terminal's capacity has risen to 13 million passengers, compared with nearly 8.7 million before. The airport had expected to reach that figure in 2013, but revised forecasts will be published this year, comprising a range of projections depending on the rate of economic recovery.

Mr Swinney praised the "tremendous" investment by the BAA-owned airport, which will create 150 jobs, mainly retail.

He said the Scottish Government "very much supports" its expansion to 120 routes, which had significantly improved Scotland's international connections.

Later, asked about the drop-off charge, he said: "Clearly there are concerns, but it is a matter for BAA. We do not support the drop-off charge. We favour increasing public transport improvements. We would prefer everyone to travel to the airport using public transport."

Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Mike Crockart, who was among guests at the ceremony, agreed that public transport must be upgraded before charging was introduced.

He said: "If we are trying to get people to use public transport more for journeys to the airport, we should put that in first.

"There is huge investment being made in the tram line to the terminal, which will also be linked to the rail network and provide many more ways to access the airport.

"If there is still a problem then, that's the time to look at charges.

"When we are encouraging economic development at the airport we should not be putting in a barrier to it."

Mr Dewar, who is leaving to run Bahrain airport in the Middle East, said he was unmoved by the widespread criticism of the scheme, which included all-party opposition and petitions attracting thousands of signatures.

He said: "This is the right thing to do. We never thought it would be popular but it is the right decision. If that makes me unpopular, I will live with the consequences.

"If someone could come up with an alternative we would be prepared to listen to it, but no-one has."

Passengers told to expect shorter waits

WALKING through Edinburgh airport's expanded security screening area and departure lounge, it appears some of the potential pitfalls created by a similar development at Glasgow airport have been avoided.

But while passengers have been using Edinburgh's new lounge for eight months, it remains to be seen whether the larger screening zone will remove the airport's security queues, which have been an on-and-off complaint among passengers for years.

Outgoing managing director Gordon Dewar said the eight X-ray lanes had been increased to 12, ten of which will be in regular use.

Mr Dewar said: "We believe it is going to be a consistently better service for the vast majority of passengers."

However, he admitted the airport's previous target of screening 95 per cent of passengers within five minutes had been replaced with 98 per cent within ten minutes. He said feedback from passengers showed that queuing for seven to eight minutes was acceptable.

Leaving the screening area, passengers walk straight out into the lounge, unlike at Glasgow where there are steps or a hairpin-shaped ramp.

There is also more space than at Glasgow to view the flight information screens that confront passengers as they emerge from security.

In addition, unlike at Glasgow, passengers are not forced to walk through the duty-free shop, negotiating product displays and pillars, to reach departures.