Glasgow vs Edinburgh
 

These two Central Belt airports seem to have suffered somewhat different fortunes over recent decades. They are only about 50 miles apart and linked by a Motorway however Edinburgh seems to be prospering at Glasgow's expense despite the Glasgow area being the larger population centre. I have noticed that many holidays seem to be unavailable with Glasgow flights, with Edinburgh only departure option from Scotland.

Annual passengers.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmf...4f93cfb0b4.png

The green line is the ratio [Edin-passengers / glasgow-pass * 10,000,000]. (10,000,000 chosen to scale it to fit nicely on the chart) It shows that Glasgow seems to be holding it's own over more recent years (after 2011?) since it does not seem to be losing market share now.

I recently posted a similar chart in Biz jets section of pprune[1] in response to a question about a lack of Biz Jet services at Edin. but I thought that someone here may have some insight as to the reason(s) for this change in relative fortune?

The population of the Glasgow area seems to be quite a bit larger than that of the Edinburgh area.

"Glasgow has an estimated population of 596,000, which is little changed from 595,000 in 2012 and 593,000 in 2011. ... The larger Greater Glasgow area has an estimated population of 1.2 million, while the region surrounding the conurbation has about 2.8 million residents. This represents about 42% of the population of Scotland."[2]

"Edinburgh has an estimated population of 489,000, ...
The larger urban population is estimated at 820,000."[3]

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[1] https://www.pprune.org/biz-jets-ag-f...l#post10244455
[2] http://worldpopulationreview.com/wor...ow-population/
[3] http://worldpopulationreview.com/wor...gh-population/

Lot of inbound tourism to Edinburgh, about 3.8 million people a year compared to Glasgow with 800,000. Glasgow and N Lanarkshire have a 25% ish lower average disposable income than Edinburgh I mean don't take my word for it just look at the classic ICAO decode: EGPH: (posh houses) EGPF: (poor f*ckers)

Location is important: Edinburgh airport is to the west of the city and although the traffic is bad can also capture Stirlingshire, Fife and really all the way to Perth and Dundee. To get from any of those to GLA you have to go through Glasgow and out the other side. Indeed if you live in the eastern bits of Glasgow , Edinburgh airport may be easier than Glasgow to get to...

Glasgow still doesn't have a rail link...Edinburgh has a tram (not sure that's an advantage or disadvantage ;-) )

The constant bickering between the GLA & EDI fanboys bores the pants off me frankly. I just wish both airports success.

True, both airports serve Scotland for different reasons and I wish them both success.

:ugh: :ugh:

Yeah. Fan boys just ruin these fourms !!

could not agree more.

GLA is not helped by Glasgow's transport structure and policies. All railways run into terminus stations and all roads bottleneck at the Kingston Bridge approaches. There is a four platform railway station less than a runway length from the GLA terminal to which a people mover could take passengers onto a raised platform straddling over all the lines to Glasgow, Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. Glasgow City Council are not interested because it is in Paisley and come up with all sorts of hare brained attempts to get a train and even a tram/train from the airport to the dead end Glasgow Central station. They can't seem to understand that very few luggage laden passengers want to go to the City centre. For a proper rail link there should ideally be a branch that crosses under the Clyde and joins the existing low level lines through Central and Queen Street.

All I'm seeing is a (relatively) sober discussion about the challenges faced by the two resoective airports.

What have I missed ?

I drove recently from Edinburgh to Ayr and expected to go over the Kingston Bridge but instead went on a relatively new bit of motorway and avoided the aerial tour of Glasgow City Centre. Just wondered whether this new bit of motorway has relieved the congestion on the Kingston Bridge at all? Later that day, about 6.00pm I drove from Ayr to Glasgow Airport and I must say the traffic congestion on the motorway towards the airport was pretty grim (but nothing like as bad as the M25 on a Friday pm!!)

About 15+ years of posts.. apparently.

You must have gone M8-M73-M74-M77. You cross the Clyde around Cambuslang. The new M74 link has made a big difference but during the busy times there is still congestion in the Kinning Park area where two motorways from the East meet two motorways from the West. There were plans for ring roads in the sixties and the routes were kept free but in the last twenty years these have been built over. The Northern outer ring road would have taken traffic from the East out to the Erskine Bridge which would have been perfect for the airport but like with the railway it seems everyone has to go via Glasgow city centre.

After binge watching Taggart, I can see no reason to visit Glasgow.

Haha... That's a bit like saying that after watching 'Apocalype Now' I've got no intention of visiting Asia ;)

...so why read it, ... and then why post a reply??! Posting a response is engaging with a subject that you claim is boring. You can't be so bored that you then get involved - you need to get a life.

Try skimming over them and not responding, and therefore not negatively contributing to a forum you chose to join!!

SAD

Exhibit A...………………

I wish both airports success.