Edinburgh Airport Unveils £500M Five-Year Expansion Plan, Names New CEO
Why It MattersThe investment signals continued confidence in commercial airport capacity growth in Scotland, reflecting broader efforts by operators like Vinci Airports to expand gateway infrastructure amid rising passenger demand.
Edinburgh Airport has announced a five-year, £500 million ($670 million) capital development plan alongside a leadership change at the top of the organisation. Mark Johnston, currently Chief Operating Officer at London Gatwick Airport, will become Edinburgh's new CEO on Oct. 1, 2026, succeeding Gordon Dewar, who is stepping down after 14 years in the role. Johnston previously served as managing director of Glasgow Airport before joining Gatwick, where he has been COO for the past two and a half years, and was born and raised in Edinburgh.
The expansion programme, described by Dewar as the biggest investment in Edinburgh Airport's history, will increase the terminal's footprint by 60%. Plans include new gates and aircraft stands, revamped retail areas and food and beverage services, a new international arrivals hall with upgraded baggage claim equipment, additional electric vehicle infrastructure, and a new access road.
Under Dewar's tenure, the airport nearly doubled its annual passenger numbers, growing from nine million in 2012 to almost 17 million in 2025. The airport is currently served by 41 airlines and ranks as the 141st-busiest passenger airport in the world. Vinci Airports, which holds a majority stake in both Edinburgh and Gatwick and manages both facilities, said the expansion plan underscores its confidence in the airport's growth prospects and its long-term commitment to supporting its development, adding that it would increase capacity while consolidating Edinburgh's role as Scotland's leading international gateway.
