Scottish agents welcome Edinburgh airport sale
Scottish travel agents today welcomed the news that Edinburgh Airport is to be bought by the owner of Gatwick and London City airports in a deal worth £807.2 million.
President of the SPAA Kevin Thom said the new owners, Global Infrastructure Partnership (GPI), had a "proven track record".
GPI beat off competition from a consortium led by another infrastructure investor J.P. Morgan Asset Management to snap up Edinburgh from BAA, which put the airport up for sale following a ruling by the Competition Commission that it must sell one of its largest Scottish hubs, see previous story.
Thom said GPI had "demonstrated their willingness to invest in and improve these vital UK aviation assets – expanding runway and passenger services capacity, and improving check-in and security efficiency."
He said he was hopeful GPI would follow the same course with Edinburgh. "Commercial aviation in general, and not least in Scotland, is facing severe and multi-faceted challenges right now – with excessive taxation of travellers via APD; confusion in Government over future aviation policy, and of course an understandable degree of uncertainty regarding Anglo-Scottish air services following the acquisition of bmi by British Airways owner IAG.
"Edinburgh Airport, which has enjoyed considerable success under the ownership of BAA…can, we believe, go from strength to strength during a period of stable ownership and sustained investment by GIP.
"Hopefully, this will mean continued growth of its route network and passenger services; and an ever more significant contribution to Scotland’s economy in general, and inbound and outbound travel sectors in particular. We will be urging our Members in the East and their clients to support Edinburgh’s wide range of routes and services to the maximum."
BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said: "Edinburgh airport and its team have been part of BAA for a long time and we are proud of its achievements. We wish the new owners every success and are confident the airport will continue to flourish. BAA will continue to focus on improving passengers’ journeys at Heathrow and its other airports."
The sale is expected to close by the end of May.
By Diane Evans and Linsey McNeill
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