IATA Code: EDI
Address: Edinburgh Airport,
Scotland,
United Kingdom, EH12 9DN
Distance from City: 9km
Terminal Plan: Here
Day Trip Possible: Yes
Passenger Numbers: 9,000,000 (2009)
Closest Airport: Glasgow
Overview: With no real secondary airport unlike Glasgow’s Prestwick, it looked like Edinburgh would become a real force. However, over the last few years traffic has more or less stagnated here, although it is still Scotland’s largest airport. With extensions planned to take the airport to 26 million passengers by 2030, it pretty much means that traffic will have to increase by 1 million passengers a year, every year until then. Whether this can be achieved remains to be seen but there are factors favouring this, including the close distance to the city centre and the possible connection of rail links.
Getting there: Edinburgh is extremely well-located for an airport: extremely close to the road networks and rail (although the connection has yet to be completed). There are several buses which serve the city centre and also surrounding towns. Prices vary – more for the ‘Express’ buses and less for the standard buses, which of course have to make other stops. The plus sides is that frequency is great – even at night, there should be no problem getting here from the city centre. Travel times vary and like Dublin can be liable to being held up by traffic. Car hire and taxi services are also available from the terminal.
General Tips: Not the maximum available here at present but that is soon to change with the new improvements to the departure lounge which will add a shedload more shops, dining facilities and seating. With an approximate doubling of space with no increase in passengers, it’ll certainly feel a lot more roomy. Given this, you can expect things to be pretty busy, as this is an airport busy all year around. It’s pretty obvious where the extension has occured (Gates 13-23), as there are some walk away from the main hall. Rather amusingly, in true British superstition, it was chosen to name Gates 12 and 12b than use the unlucky 13. But the extension took away this, and in fact Gate 13 is probably the worst one. The gates in the extension don’t have as many facilities for shopping or eating, so bear this in mind.
Budget Travellers Guide: Good, because of the relatively cheap transfers and quick time it takes to get to the airport. Easyjet probably have the edge here, and certainly in the London market, is the best choice at a reasonable price. BMI, British Airways are also here as well as a connection to New York by Continental. The domestic connections are first-rate and it’s easy to connect to almost any airport in the UK from here. The summer provides you with the best choice in low-cost carriers with Vueling, Spanair and Jet2 all offering seasonal services.
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