Over four million passengers traveled through Edinburgh Airport in the four months between June and September – meaning 2014 was the busiest summer ever for the airport.
A total of 4,151,479 people travelled through Edinburgh Airport between the beginning of June and the end of September, with last month seeing 987,674 passengers. This figure is a 2.9% increase on the same period in 2013 and follows two consecutive ‘million months’ in July and August.
The unprecedented development in long-haul services to the USA, Canada and the Middle East has driven this growth.
A total of 563,312 international passengers passed through the terminal last month, an increase of 6.3% on 2013. Domestic passenger numbers saw a slight drop by 1.4% to 424,362 following the end of the easyJet service to London Southend.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Summer 2014 has been very successful for us and seeing over four million passengers in as many months is a great achievement. Our teams have been working extremely hard and have delivered some amazing results to help give our passengers the very best experience.
“It’s also been a tremendous summer for Scotland and we should credit the amazing events of the past few months for helping us achieve such high passenger figures. The Ryder Cup saw huge numbers of visitors to Scotland and we had one of our busiest departure days ever on the 29th of September with all transatlantic flights and connections from Edinburgh full.
“September was a great month for us with a significant increase in the number of international passenger travel. This has been down to new long-haul routes to Chicago, Philadelphia and Doha, which weren’t in operation last year, and an increased frequency to Toronto with Air Canada Rouge.
“We’ve also seen strong performances from easyJet across its entire European network and Ryanair services to Dublin.”
The moving annual total for the year ending 30 September 2014 was 10,102,225.
More information from:
Gordon Robertson, Director of Communications
07785 372961 or gordon_robertson@edinburghairport.com
About Edinburgh Airport:
Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport. More than 40 airlines serve 100-plus destinations and 9.78 million passengers passed through the airport in 2013 – the busiest year ever for a Scottish airport.
July 2014 was the airport’s busiest month ever with over 1.1 million passengers travelling through its terminal.
It is the 5th largest in the UK, in terms of passenger numbers, and employs over 5000 people, contributing hundreds of millions of pounds to Scotland’s economy.
Edinburgh Airport was named best in Britain, and top three in Europe, for passenger satisfaction, at the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards for 2012 and ‘Best European Airport (5-10m passengers)’ at the ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards for 2012. It has also won Scottish Airport of the Year at the Scottish Transport Awards in 2013 and 2014.
edinburghairport.com
BOTANIC LIGHTS: NIGHT IN THE GARDEN
Thursday 30 October to Sunday 23 November
As darkness descends, follow a magical trail of light through the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Take a path illuminated by fantastic effects and experience the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the Garden after dark. See the Victorian Palm House lit superbly against the evening sky, enjoy the twinkle of lights over the Pond, play with installations which cast colour and shadow on the landscape before making your way to a finale of light on Inverleith House lawn, overlooking the Edinburgh skyline at night.
Night in the Garden has been created by the Botanics and is produced by Edinburgh-based Unique Events in association with Black Light, Scottish light artist Malcolm Innes and Euan Winton from Edinburgh Napier University. It is part of Homecoming Scotland 2014 and is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and Sodexo Prestige, the Garden’s exclusive caterers.
Make sure you don’t miss out on this special family event. Go online and book your tickets today. Tickets cost £12.50 for adults, £6 for children (aged 4-15). A booking fee applies. Children three years and under go free, as do essential carers.
Buy tickets here
You can also book tickets by calling 0844 573 8455 or in person at The Fringe Shop, 180 High Street, Edinburgh. For more event info, visit www.rbge.org.uk/botaniclights.
Images by Lloyd Smith
Edinburgh-based family business, Mercat Tours, has been awarded 91% by VisitScotland in their recent quality assurance visit. Graded with only 12 other tourism attractions in Scotland achieving over 90% in their assessment, the national tourism board acknowledged the exceptional visitor experience delivered by the people of Mercat.
Awarded 5 stars for the 8th year running and the only walking tour company with the accolade, the detailed grading has been a target for the business to better year on year. Inspired and learning from industry excellence such as The Royal Yacht Brittania with their 97% grading, Mercat has strived to invest and improve their tour experience for visitors and staff alike.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award, especially as VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme is now a benchmark for quality assessment internationally. Constant review of what we do by listening to visitor’s feedback and scrutiny for awards such as this help us to develop and improve. It means a great deal to have the hard work of our staff and our business ethos recognised and rewarded.” Frances Mann, Head of Product and Training.
The record grading is the latest, valued award for Mercat following a successful year which has seen the company’s commitment to quality acknowledged with a National Scottish Thistle Award, Scottish Business in the Community SME of the Year and GTBS GOLD re-awarded for sustainable practise.
Mercat aim to celebrate their 30th year with further growth in 2015, including new language products, themed tours and partner collaboration focusing on high quality storytelling experiences.
The Council has landed a prestigious industry accolade for ‘turning around’ the Edinburgh Tram project.
At a special ceremony in London for the 2014 Light Rail Awards, Chief Executive Sue Bruce collected the Judges’ Special Award from Baroness Kramer, Minister of State for Transport and broadcaster and journalist Nicholas Owen.
The accolade was awarded in honour of the ‘strong leadership’ demonstrated by Ms Bruce and Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds in bringing the much-publicised tram project in on its revised timetable and revised budget, following a mediation process in 2011.
The Light Rail Awards judges commented: “This formidable duo came into one of the most high-profile – for all the wrong reasons – and toughest tramway projects late in the game. Through strong leadership, they have turned it around – and into a success. Please be upstanding for the key figures who have brought the Edinburgh Trams project to its opening – a feat just two years ago some never even thought would happen.”
Ms Bruce said: “We had no prior knowledge of this award before it was announced on the night but it was definitely a very welcome surprise. Cllr Hinds and I have made no secret of our determination to see the Edinburgh Tram project delivered in line with the revised budget and timescale, so it’s gratifying to have received this industry recognition. I was delighted to accept the award on behalf of everyone who made this turn-around possible.”
Cllr Hinds added: “The judges said that two years ago some people didn’t think trams would ever materalise in Edinburgh – I for one certainly didn’t expect to be winning this kind of industry accolade when I first took over the project in May 2012! It’s an honour to be presented with this Light Rail Award and credit is due to everyone at the Council, Edinburgh Trams and the project contractors whose exemplary joint working got trams up and running earlier this year.
Rapidly expanding project management and interior fit-out company, Market Prepare, is celebrating following its most recent accolade for impressive business growth.
The Prince’s Trust Annual Growth Fund Awards recognise the success of young entrepreneurs across Scotland. With ten full time staff and growing, Market Prepare has been awarded the business growth prize. The Princes Trust reported that the Musselburgh-based interiors company “stole the show” on the awards evening itself!
Lee Fitzpatrick, managing director of Market Prepare, comments: “It’s truly warming to have our hard work pay off with this recognition from The Prince’s Trust. My business partner Sean and I set up Market Prepare in 2011 on a local scale; we now cover the entire UK and each week is busier and busier.”
“Working hard to ensure we deliver the highest quality service is central to everything we do. All of our actions are based on integrity, consistency, responsiveness, value and trust. Keeping this front of mind has allowed our reputation to precede us.”
Allan Watt, director of The Prince’s Trust Scotland, says: “The Prince’s Trust helps over 800 young entrepreneurs start up in business each year. It’s important to recognise their success and I’m delighted to have met so many of the young people we have helped to grow and develop their business through essential funding and valuable mentoring support.”
Lee concludes: “The support we have received from the Prince’s Trust over the years has been wonderful. We have clear projections for the year ahead and remain focused upon becoming industry leaders.”
For more information about Market Prepare please visit www.market-prepare.co.uk.
Condies Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers has launched a hub for information on their website, offering free, practical advice on all matters accountancy, tax and business related to registered users.
The information provided on the site is continually updated, relevant advice that can be invaluable to organisations at every stage.
Condies itself was established in the 1920’s and has a constantly expanding client base throughout Scotland, ranging from individuals and family businesses to professional partnerships and large commercial companies. Condies offers a range of compliance and value-added services and specialise in a variety of industry sectors.
Condies Managing Partner, George Primrose said, “We have seen a real rise in the request for information from both clients and people we talk to. We believe that this kind of information should be available freely and have added this section to our website to provide a constant stream of useful information to those who require it. Free registration on our site will ensure that any publications or relevant information will be sent and our team of specialists are on hand to deal with any resulting queries.
The subjects change from month to month and reflect topical issues and frequently asked questions.”
To register, please follow the link
Congratulations to our Events Manager, Sian Downes, our Events Manager who was awarded ‘Highly Commendable’ at last week’s 2014 Event Awards in London! Sian was nominated as one of the top four event planners under the age 30 in the UK and the only ‘Rising Star’ in Scotland, as part of the awards. Sian joined the Chamber in April 2013 as Events Executive having graduated from QMU with a honours degree in PR And Media. She was promoted to Manager one year later and has focused on developing our events calendar from 35 events per year to over 120 in 2014. On her “Highly Commendable” she said, “I was overjoyed to be nominated let alone receive anything else, this is a great honour. Thanks to the Chamber and its members for supporting me”. On Thursday, Sian heads to Glasgow to represent the Chamber at the Scottish Event Awards where the ECC is nominated for “Best Awards Scheme”
The people making a real difference to transport across the UK were recognised at the prestigious National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London last night. Hosted by radio and television presenter
Jeremy Vine, the awards attracted more than 600 senior transport professionals, including Transport Minister Claire Perry MP, who gave the keynote address.
The much coveted Rail Operator of the Year title was awarded to ScotRail for its wide range of initiatives including the biggest launch of free wi-fi in the UK and the introduction of smart tickets. The operator carried more than 87 million passengers in 2013/14 – the tenth consecutive annual rise – and the latest passenger survey shows that it is above the UK average in 34 out of 37 categories.
On the same evening, the train operator and partners – including Transport Scotland – were named as Overall Winner at the ACoRP Community Rail Awards, for their combined work to deliver a joined-up Community Rail Strategy.
Congratulations to QMU PR & Media graduate, Sian Downes, who was awarded ‘Highly Commendable’ at last night’s 2014 Event Awards in London! Sian was nominated as one of the top four event planners under the age 30 in the UK and the only ‘Rising Star’ in Scotland, as part of the awards. Sian is currently the Events Manager for Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. Click here to read more on Sian’s story: http://goo.gl/l60KS3
21ST NOVEMBER 2014 TO 04TH JANUARY 2015
Underbelly and Unique Events, on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, today announce the programme of Edinburgh’s Christmas 2014/2015.
Edinburgh’s Christmas promises to be bigger, better and more affordable than ever – especially for families and Edinburgh residents.
Highlights include:
- EH postcode holders receive a 20% discount on all shows, rides and events.
- Special family prices are available for most attractions. Edinburgh residents are able to take advantage of these prices and also use their 20% discount – so getting the best value for money.
- New attractions in East Princes Street Gardens for between £1 and £4.
The desire to offer value has been achieved without any compromise on quality – with the Starflyer, Big Wheel and Paradiso Spiegeltent all returning along with an expanded Santa Land and, the community opening event, Light Night on George Street.
Other highlights include:
- Light Night on George Street returning on 23rd November with 60 school and community groups confirmed to perform on a series of stages up and down George Street to the theme of ‘Christmas Songs and Carols’. Last year, over 26,000 people took to the streets to enjoy this community event
- A truly unique ice rink in St Andrew Square around the Melville Monument
- The Paradiso Speigletent returns with a programme of world class entertainment including Scotch and Soda, the internationally acclaimed circus show direct from sell out runs at the Sydney and Brisbane Festivals, Stickman, comedy superstar Al Murray for 3 nights only and Edinburgh’s favourite all male burlesque troupe, Briefs
- Santa Land in East Princes Street Gardens with the very successful Christmas Tree Maze, Santa Train and Santa’s Grotto, all seen in 2013, joined by a series of affordable family attractions priced between £1 and £4
- Other attractions in East Princes Street Gardens include the Big Wheel, the Star Flyer, the Ice Rink on the East Princes Street Gardens terrace and the double decker Carousel
In 2013 we promised to deliver a re-imagined Christmas for Edinburgh, a festival to rival the celebrations of other world cities and an event of which the capital city of Scotland would be proud of. This we achieved, with international broadcaster CNN voting Edinburgh’s Christmas one of the top ten best cities for a winter vacation. Other highlights of the success of Edinburgh’s Christmas 2013 include:
- 387,000 tickets sold for Edinburgh’s Christmas
- A 7.6% increase in city centre footfall rates and a 16.8% increase in Princes Street footfall in December (massively outperforming a UK average of -2.9%)
- 73% of people from Edinburgh said that Edinburgh’s Christmas was the sole or an important reason to come to Edinburgh that day. And over half of the visitors (51%) from outside of Edinburgh said that Edinburgh’s Christmas was the sole or an important reason to come to Edinburgh’s City Centre that day.
Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam of Underbelly said: ”We’re delighted to be presenting Edinburgh’s Christmas for the second year. Last year we re-imagined the event and brought record breaking numbers of people to Edinburgh. We’re very excited about this year’s innovations, including the new ice rink in St Andrew Square around the Melville Monument; the expanded Santa Land in Princes Street Gardens with more affordable attractions; and the new family prices and the 20% EH residents’ discount across the board. We want this to be a Christmas for all of Edinburgh and we think there’s something for everyone – from Scotch & Soda in the Spiegeltent to our Stained Glass project where 24 Edinburgh primary schools will show off their creations in Princes Street Gardens. Our ambition is to make Edinburgh the best place to spend Christmas, whether you’re a resident or a visitor. It maybe early to say this, but we are wishing Edinburgh a “Happy Christmas”.
Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events Champion, Councillor Steve Cardownie, said: “Edinburgh is always a special city during winter and this year, the Capital is certainly the place to be to celebrate Christmas.
“Our festive programmes are the envy of the world. The line up this winter with Underbelly will be bring back some of the city’s classic attractions such as Santa Land – which will be bigger than ever before – and the spectacular Light Night on George Street which returns for its second year. Not only will the East Princes Street Gardens ice rink make a return, after receiving well over 30,000 visitors last Christmas, but a new bespoke ice rink in St Andrew Square will be opened for the very first time.
“I am especially pleased that after feedback from Edinburgh residents and a concerted decision to tailor the programme to suit even more local people, this year’s programme offers a big range of free events and a selection of great value attractions from as little as £1.
“Our Christmas events provide a great boost to the Edinburgh economy, and this year’s offering is set draw residents and visitors of all ages into the city centre.”
There are still various exciting ways to get involved with Edinburgh’s Christmas 2014! For more information please contact : Rebecca Maclean
0131 623 3031
