New routes boost figures at main Scottish airports

ALL of Scotland’s three main airports have started the year with an increase in passenger numbers, according to figures published yesterday.

Scotland's main airports have enjoyed a boost in passenger numbers. Picture: TSPL

A total of 628,285 people travelled through Edinburgh’s airport in January, a rise of 7 per cent on the same month last year, with new routes boosting both domestic and international traffic.

The figure follows a record-breaking year for the airport after it handled more than 10 million passengers in 2014.

Glasgow airport also saw an increase in passenger numbers in January after 485,685 people travelled through its doors – an 11.4 per cent jump on the previous year. International traffic grew by 18.1 per cent while domestic travel was up 6.6 per cent.

The airport had also recorded a busy 2014, with more than 7.7 million passengers in 12 months for a rise of 4.8 per cent.

Managers said although January was traditionally a quiet period, it had experienced a “marked increase” in demand for international travel particularly to new European destinations including Wroclaw and Katowice in Poland.

Passenger numbers at Aberdeen airport, which is owned by the Ferrovial and Macquarie consortium that also bought Glasgow last year, rose slightly despite challenging weather conditions. There was a 0.5 per cent increase on the same month last year as it saw 252,561 people passing through the terminal.

Managing director Carol Benzie said: “We are delighted to see passenger numbers holding strong despite testing weather conditions throughout January, including high winds, snow and ice.”

The figures come after Scotland’s 11 regional airports – including Inverness, Sumburgh and Barra – revealed they handled a record 1.4 million passengers last year.