Taxi Driver Online

At some time in the future Edinburgh Airport hope to get 25% or more of its passengers using buses. I just wonder what percentage of passengers use buses now and how transport percentages are currently distributed? For instance Taxis, Trains, buses and private cars?
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Evening News (Edinburgh)

July 17, 2006, Monday

HEADLINE: Airport's plan to get on the buses

BYLINE: ALAN RODEN Transport Reporter

EDINBURGH Airport is aiming to get more than a quarter of all its passengers using buses under its expansion plans for the next 25 years.

Owners BAA today launched a planning blueprint for the next quarter of a century, which outlines a proposed massive expansion in a bid to make Edinburgh Airport one of Europe's top international gateways. The airport came under fire from the city council for neglecting public transport links to the Ingliston hub in its original draft document last year.

But BAA has now agreed to draw up a separate strategy on this issue later this year, which will aim to get more than a quarter of users on to buses. A high-profile marketing campaign is anticipated, with a range of initiatives to make it easier for passengers to use public transport.

Targets will be set for different traveller groups, such as Fifers and those from West Lothian, while other ideas - such as introducing a taxi-sharing scheme - are likely to be investigated.

The airport has also reiterated its need to build on land currently housing the Royal Highland Showground, effectively sounding the death knell for the popular attraction in its present setting. And BAA is set to embark on a huge public relations exercise, with information evenings for communities close to the airport.

The key points of the expansion plans - an expected trebling of passengers to 26 million, a huge rise in international flights, GBP 300 million investment over the next ten years, thousands of new jobs and the possible requirement of a second runway - remain unchanged from last year.

The Scottish Executive must now decide if it will adopt the BAA masterplan as part of a review of the west Edinburgh planning framework. Airport managing director Richard Jeffrey said: "We have produced a masterplan which we believe reflects the ambitions of the city of Edinburgh, while addressing the concerns of our local communities.

"We have listened to those communities and responded with a blueprint for the future of Edinburgh Airport that is ambitious, achievable and, above all, sustainable." Around one-third of the 2005 draft document has been rewritten, with new additions including plans to introduce voluntary measures to address daytime noise issues, details of which have yet to be revealed.

BAA has acknowledged aviation's contribution to climate change, and there is a commitment to carry out regular monitoring of air quality around the airport, with the results being shared with the city council.

The masterplan outlines the need for an additional 15.5 hectares of land by 2013, with nearly 400 hectares required if a second runway is built. The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, owners of the Ingliston showground, offered BAA 100 acres of its own land in a compromise deal.

But airport chiefs pointed out that the government White Paper, which predicted a major growth in air services, first directed that the showground should move. Chief executive of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Alan Wilson, said:

"The airport generates significant jobs and income for the city's economy. Its expansion, to support increasing demand, will improve Scottish competitiveness by ensuring worldwide access for Scottish products and key global industries such as financial services."

Philip Riddle, VisitScotland's chief executive, added: "Scotland has seen an encouraging growth in international visitors over the last five years, but we need to remain competitive to ensure that growth continues."
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