I just don’t see what pre clearance is going to attract for EDI?

If there was a new, modern terminal being built then it could properly be done. It works at Dublin because that is a proper network hub, and tiny town Shannon does not have a huge need for space - more of a perk there. Same goes for BFS to an extent - if pre clearance covers a gate or two. A perk for any potential future US link.

I think EDI should look at this from the same perspective of MAN - not worth the space, not worth the investment. El Dorado isn’t just going to magically appear..

As for the SAS/Skyteam argument, that’s talking single digits per week. I would much rather fly direct from ARN then route ARN-EDI-XXX. I’m sure the added connection time would be much longer than these immigration queues?

What EDI really should’ve been chasing is EIUK though. A proper based carrier which would benefit from being in a home market (IAG/OW).

I’m based at ARN. The trouble is we don’t have many direct flights. We can fly to JFK, EWR or MIA (seasonal). For anywhere else we need to change. Most often I end up on Finnair or BA. I have global entry so preclearance isn’t a dealbreaker for me but if flights work I’d have no problem going via EDI and sticking with SAS and Skyteam.
As for immigration times, I’ve queued nearly 3hrs last year at IAD and had plenty of connections shorter than that.

EDI's only year round connection is United to EWR & Delta to JFK (although that one does suspend in shoulder season) ?

Point is, SAS/Skyteam will continue to route through LHR (and MAN to a lesser extent for LAS/MCO) even if EDI gets pre clearance .

I understand SAS are already recasting the Trans Atlantic network and indeed European networks to align with Delta/ KLM and AirFrance however they have also pretty much refocused on long haul back to Copenhagen .

Seems the dual long haul hub Copenhagen and Stockholm ( limited Oslo) wasn’t at all optimal

Now the real question must surely be can they better push the majority of Trans Atlantic (it’s a smallish number in the scheme of things ) via Copenhagen, Amsterdam, JFK ( rather than Newark ) and Atlanta over Heathrow and United idk.

I highlighted the viability of Stockholm via Edinburgh subject to some rejigging ( as an alternate rather than primary docket routing) however if it generates an extra 50 to 60 connects per day pre-clearance existence wouldn’t make an ounce of difference imho.

Right now SAS need to exit administration and AFKL will certainly want much of the currently star traffic rerouted via Amsterdam and indeed Copenhagen

Looks like Easyjet have dropped Hamburg for S24 (and maybe beyond).

Airspace Change Organising Group - Airspace Change Masterplan (Iteration 3) Scotland: Public Engagement Exercise is open for public consultation until 10 March 2024:

https://acog.citizenspace.com/comms/sctma/

Supporting documentation: https://acog.citizenspace.com/comms/...UMENT_2024.pdf

Terminal Expansion

It would appear that some significant changes lie ahead at EDI in the next 3-4 years. Described as creating a much expanded area for international flights. Another add on really with the terminal being extended north from gates 4-11. Most domestic flights will be handled through gates 1-3. Presumably the extension will be dual level, similar to Heathrow allowing departing and arriving flights to be handled at same time without disruption, New airbridges at gate 7 and 8? As suggested in previous posts, airbridges attached to terminal past gates 19 creating stands for wide body aircraft. The expansion northwards presumably would create the space for gate rooms? The work would have to start soon to meet this time-line?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/new...%20responsible.

Nobody could deny that terminal expansion is desperately needed but who is going to pay for if? With the airport up for sale it seems unlikely that the current owners will want to fund it and, assuming it is sold, what happens next is up to the new owners.

The entire company that owned Edinburgh (GIP) has been acquired by Blackrock, at the moment the sale appears to be off

not knowing much of the background to this relatively sudden takeover, I was interested to hear from a commentator..
”Getting $100 billion AUM for $12 billion tells about a whole lot of debt. I hope BlackRock is able to handle all that labyrinth that they're getting themselves into”

AIUI, the team which built up GIP (from scratch AIR?) will now be in charge of Blackrock's entire infrastructure division. I'm sure that their borrowing costs will be much lower than those of GIP.

Hopefully it also involves a desperately needed expansion of the check in area...

Profit from the major Crosswinds Building Project which will be built on the old Runways will provide a fair sum to whoever owns Edinburgh. Planning Conditions decree that profit from Development within the Airport Boundaries must be spent on its Development.

I assume the border control area at arrivals 1 won’t be required when domestic flights move predominately to gates 1-4. That area will free up some much needed space. A couple of baggage belts is all that would be required. The risk is that any freed up space is given over for more retail.

French Rugby
 

With over 40 charter flights for the French rugby supporters could today be the single busiest day ever for Edi?

Would think theyve done similar or more in past. Used to be 747’s and other widebodies, now mainly small narrowbodies

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You are thinking of when the Irish come, where only Dublin was really served with EI 747

Today there were flights to 18 different airports in France

Nantes, Lille, Bordeaux, Rennes, Valence, Toulouse, Montpellier, Dole, Lyon La Rochelle, Pau, Marseille , Grenoble, Brest, Tours, Paris (ORY/CDG/XCR)

Air France did used to send B747s, AOM DC10s etc. Changed days.

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British Airways used to fly B767 to LHR,.now A319. changed days. Frabkly thank god, people want to go local amd point to point. Years ago you had to connect at BHX or MAN or LHR for paris or places on Germany.

all these french flights are taking supports back to their local airport

December 2023 Stats

1,066,685

+19% on 2022 and exceeds 2019 total of 1,048,297

2023 Total Pax

14,396,794

December 2023

Certain European short hall routes performed well above 2022 levels.

Helsinki +26%
Paris CDG +48%
Munich +48%
Milan +67%
Malta +62%
Zurich +118%
Poznan +115%
Prague +50%

TK Istanbul slightly disappointing. -4% on 2022. The QR factor?

Long Haul

Newark - flatline with a minimal +1%
JFK + 13%
Air Canada - Toronto total pax - 4975. Mixture of 788 and 789’s. Approx LF of 77%

Doha +114%

Qatar highest ever monthly pax total at EDI I believe. 32,013. Approx LF of 93% Very good performance. It would appear they got it right going double daily on an A359.