Edinburgh Airport

At once a modern, bustling travel hub and an historical place of interest, Edinburg Airport is the most utilized airport in Scotland and seventh busiest in the United Kingdom. Located in Turnhouse, a populous suburb of Edinburgh, the airport saw over 9 million travelers pass through its gates in 2008. With major renovations in the works, that figure is expected to increase threefold by the year 2030.

Edinburgh Airport, Military & Civil Aviation

A North American Mustang P51 at Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport was constructed in 1915 as a base for RAF fighter planes, and served as such throughout both world wars. Commercial airlines began to utilize the space in 1947, and the airport, uniquely, served both military and civilian interests until the Ministry of Aviation took control of the facility in 1960 and devoted it fully to commercial travel.

[image credit scot_w_9]

Edinburgh Airport Improvements & Upgrades

Air Traffic Control tower at Edinburgh airport

Sporting just a single runway until 1977, Edinburgh Airport has been brought to modern capacity by a decades-long series of new construction and expansion of existing infrastructure. The most recent round of building included the airport’s state-of-the-art, 57-meter tall air traffic control tower (completed in 2005) the lengthy “South East Pier” (completed in 2006), and a resurfacing of all the facilities runways (completed in 2008).

[image credit hettie mcfarlane]

Edinburgh Airport’s Future Transit Plans

Edinburgh Airport has made plans to connect the airport to the city via mass transit systems by the year 2011. The facility is also completing plans to expand the selection of services available to travelers by constructing dozens of new shops, restaurants and bars, a process that should be complete by the end of 2010.

From its humble beginnings as a military base with a single airstrip to its current state as one of the premier flying destinations in the United Kingdom, Edinburgh Airport has shown a resiliency and tendency for growth that reflects well the spirit of its community. And with still more improvements on the way, the facility seems poised to take its place amongst the most modern and efficient travel destinations in Europe in the years to come.