Edinburgh Airport’s Growing Economic Impact

BiGGAR Economics has been working with Edinburgh Airport to understand and explain its economic impact for over 10 years with impact assessments in 2015 and 2019. Our latest analysis considered its economic impact in 2025, following its recovery from the effects of Covid-19.

Scotland’s Busiest Airport

With almost 17.0 million passengers*, Edinburgh Airport is the busiest airport in Scotland and the 6th busiest in the UK (trailing only Manchester and four London airports). This represents significant growth from 11.1 million in 2015.

Its upward trajectory reflects continuing investment in capacity and the attractiveness of the Airport’s growing appeal to airlines, with over 240 routes to 160 destinations. As a result, since 2015 Edinburgh Airport’s growth has outstripped other airports, with, its share of all UK passengers growing from 4.4% to 5.7%.

A Catalyst for Economic Growth

To make this possible, the Airport is supported by an ecosystem of businesses that includes everything from airlines and logistics, retail, accommodation and transport. Beyond the immediate vicinity of the terminal, the Airport is a vital piece of national infrastructure. It is one of the primary gateways for visitors travelling to Scotland, supporting visitor attractions, hospitality providers, and manufacturers across the country, including those in rural areas.

To capture this contribution, our assessment considers several impacts:

• core economic impacts: includes direct employment, supply chain spending, staff spending and capital investment
• on-site businesses: includes airlines (e.g. EasyJet, Ryanair, Jet2), retail and logistics (e.g. Menzies Aviation)
• off-site businesses: nearby accommodation and transport
• visitor spending: spending of both inbound and outbound visitors transiting through the Airport
• air freight: facilitating the export of high value goods or the import of essential supplies for Scottish companies.

Supporting £2.7 billion GVA in Scotland

When this range of impacts is taken into account, it was estimated that the Airport’s contribution in Scotland was:

• £2.7 billion Gross Value Added (GVA, a measure of economic activity)
• 43,560 jobs

The most substantial impacts are driven by inbound tourism and on-site businesses. To put this into perspective, while the Airport employs around 1,000 people and has an income of £353.0 million, its economic impact is significantly higher, with 43 additional jobs in Scotland for every direct Airport employee.

Economic Impact of Edinburgh Airport, Scotland

Growth Since 2019

Edinburgh Airport’s economic impact has not only recovered from Covid-19, but increased over time. Since our last assessment in 2019, there has been an improvement across a number of key metrics including income and on-site employment. Crucially, inbound passengers have increased by 40%, and there has been a shift from business travellers to leisure visitors.

As a result of this increased activity, there has been a 31% real-terms increase in GVA and a a 37% increase in employment. Ultimately, the continued expansion of Edinburgh Airport’s core business is directly mirrored in the businesses it supports, driving higher economic growth across the whole of Scotland.

The full report can be read here and the press release from Edinburgh Airport can be read here.

To talk to us about how your organisation may be contributing to the economy and society, please get in touch via info@biggareconomics.co.uk

*Analysis was based on projections of total passenger numbers from early December 2025, which was lower than the actual total.