EDINBURGH Airport achieved a fresh record for its passenger numbers last year, as international routes drove an overall 6.5 per cent rise to 14.31 million.
It highlighted the fact that this was also a fresh record for a Scottish airport, while flagging Brexit and infrastructure “challenges” in the year ahead.
The number of international passengers handled last year by Edinburgh Airport, at 8.932 million, was up by 9.5% on 2017. Domestic passenger numbers were up by 1.9% at 5.378 million.
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The airport concluded its record year by achieving its first-ever December in which passenger numbers exceeded one million.
It handled 1.027 million passengers last month – up by 11% on December 2017.
Domestic passenger numbers in December, at 434,795, were up by 12.2% on the same month of 2017. International passenger numbers last month, at 592,330, were up by 10.2% on a year earlier.
Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said: “The uncertainty around Brexit obviously poses challenges and it’s crucial that we at least preserve access to that single aviation market that allows flights to pass freely through European skies, connecting Scotland to the whole of Europe.”
He added: “There’s also infrastructure challenges such as our access road, a price we have to pay for our continued growth.
“We’re working on short and long-term solutions, and that planning to improve access is something that will continue as we look ahead to what we hope is another successful year.”
Mr Dewar noted Edinburgh Airport offered passengers more than 150 destinations, declaring that it was “variety of choice” which was driving its growth.
The airport noted 21 international and two domestic routes had been launched at Edinburgh during 2018. Airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2. Thomas Cook, United Airlines and Emirates launched new routes.
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