Aberdeen Airport set for £13m overhaul

ABERDEEN Airport is to receive a £13 million overhaul to transform its passenger experience and grow its capacity, its parent company Heathrow Airport Ltd has announced.

Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael has welcomed the news. Picture: PA

The investment, announced at a Scotland Office event, is the largest since the airport terminal was first built, and follows an earlier announcement from Heathrow of £17m of funding for Glasgow Airport to prepare it for the Commonwealth Games.

Claire Harbord, the communications director for Heathrow Airport Ltd, said the decision was based on “fantastic growth” in Scotland and the “positive signs” of recovery north of the Border and in the UK as a whole.

She told The Scotsman: “This is a vote of confidence in the future in Scotland whatever the outcome next year [in the independence referendum].”

The investment will see an expansion of the terminal allowing space for more shops and restaurants as well as an overhaul of the executive lounges for British Airways customers. 65 per cent of the passengers using the Airport are business users.

The announcement was made at a CBI Scotland event in the Scotland Office hosted by Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael.

Mr Carmichael said: “As a regular user of Aberdeen airport I know it is at full capacity for passengers. The airport is crucial for the economy for the north east of Scotland and this is very welcome news.”