Edinburgh Airport passes million passenger mark

Edinburgh Airport bosses said the growth in passenger numbers was part of a "real culture shift"

Scotland's busiest airport handled more than one million passengers last month, passing the seven-figure milestone for the first time.

A total of 1,082,938 people travelled through Edinburgh Airport in July, up 13.1% on the previous year.

The hub surpassed the landmark figure in late July, airport officials said.

The figures were announced as Glasgow and Aberdeen Airports also reported rises in passenger numbers of more than 5% in July, compared to 2012.

Helicopter sectors

Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: "We're over the moon with this achievement and is testament not only to the hard work of all at Edinburgh Airport - my team, our airlines and handling agents and other partners - but to the real culture shift that has happened since the airport was bought by GIP last summer.

"We've had the equivalent of the population of Stirling through our doors every day."

Performance figures for Edinburgh's busiest ever month show that 448,442 passengers were on domestic flights while 634,496 were travelling to and from international destinations.

Passenger numbers at Aberdeen International Airport were on the rise in July.

Exactly 335,631 people used the terminal last month, up 6.8% on the previous year.

Officials said there was growth in both the fixed-wing and helicopter sectors, as well as domestic and international passenger numbers.

Long-haul routes

Glasgow Airport reported its busiest July in five years, with more than 832,000 people travelling through its doors.

The passenger figures represented an increase of 5.4% compared to the same period last year.

Domestic traffic grew by 8% while a strong demand from holidaymakers and the "solid" performance of a number of Glasgow's long-haul routes contributed to a 3.7% increase in international traffic, airport bosses said.

Amanda McMillan, Glasgow Airport's managing director, said: "The summer season is always a busy time for the airport but there has been a marked increase in the number of people choosing to fly from Glasgow over the course of the past two months.

"We have enjoyed consistent passenger growth since January 2011 which underlines the progress we are making in terms of securing new routes and services."