You haven't a hope if you want to see Pope touch down

Airport bosses fear crowds hoping to catch a glimpse of the pontiff when he touches down next Thursday morning could cause chaos for other travellers.

They said security arrangements surrounding the arrival meant there would be little to see in any case.

Pope Benedict XVI will be flown into the Turnhouse side of the airport, well away from the main terminal buildings.

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He will be greeted on the tarmac by the Duke of Edinburgh and a small welcoming party as he steps off his specially-chartered plane at the start of his four-day visit to the UK.

He will then be driven by limousine from the airport via Glasgow Road, St John's Road, Corstorphine Road, Balgreen Road and Stevenson Road on to the West Approach Road and into the city centre on his way to the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a meeting with the Queen.

However, the city council said there would be no opportunity to see the Pope on his route through the city or on his arrival at the palace.

Organisers are encouraging people to head instead for Princes Street, where the St Ninian's Day parade, featuring pipe bands, school children and a historical pageant, will take place before the Pope is driven the full length of the street and up Lothian Road in a Popemobile to have lunch at Cardinal Keith O'Brien's official residence in Morningside.

The council said there would be very limited viewing available near Holyrood Palace on the Pope's departure. "However, to avoid disappointment, traffic congestion, and risks to public safety, the public is urged to avoid Holyrood Palace as well as the Cardinal's residence and the airport."

A Catholic church source said: "Our advice is the best place to see him is in the city centre, where there will be a full morning of festivities."

Princes Street Gardens will be closed from early morning until late afternoon.

An airport spokesman said: "We are keen to ensure people don't come to the airport to try to see the Pope arriving, but go to the designated viewing areas in Princes Street."

The airport is assuring passengers that all flights will be operating normally next Thursday, but it is advising travellers to build in extra time to their journeys to allow for road closures around the airport in connection with the Pope's visit.

Several roads in the area will be shut for up to two hours in the morning and diversions will be in place. The spokesman said passengers might need to allow around half an hour for delays in reaching the airport.

He said: "The message is that it's business as usual for us. "We are offering a full schedule of flights."

One unsuspecting air passenger is likely to find themselves sitting in the Pope's seat within hours of his arrival in Edinburgh.

The Al Italia plane which flies the Pope into the Capital, with the codename Shepherd One, will then return to "normal service", taking travellers between Edinburgh and Italy.