Scotland’s newest, and most modern, landmark building was unveiled today (Monday 7 November 05) by the Secretary of State for Transport and Scotland, Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP.
Edinburgh Airport’s air traffic control tower, built in 15 months, was designed to reflect modern Scotland, providing a striking landmark for one of its key international gateways.
Now, the £11 million building is fully operational and equiped with the latest air traffic control technology, which will deliver capacity and service improvements which can in turn facilitate the increasing number of flights serving Scotland’s Capital city airport.
Speaking at the official opening, Mr Darling said:
"Edinburgh Airport has an increasingly important role in helping to meet demand for air travel to and from Scotland and in contributing to the economic benefits that aviation brings to the country.
"This impressive tower will make it easier for Edinburgh Airport to meet the future requirements of one of the UK’s fastest growing airports.”
At 57 metres, the new tower represents the most visible element of an sustained three-year, £100 million investment programme by BAA in Edinburgh Airport. In addition to the new tower, recent projects include the start of a £14m south-east pier extension, providing seven new aircraft parking stands, a £20m multi-storey car park, a £14m extension to the terminal, including additional catering facilities, and a £4m upgrade to the airfield lighting system.
Donal Dowds, currently managing director of BAA Scotland, said:
“The completion of this dramatic new building marks the final stage of a textbook construction project, which brought a great idea and ambitious design to life in a most spectacular way.
“The tower was completed on time and on budget and I want to pay tribute to the great partnerships within BAA, between Edinburgh Airport and our asset maintenance team in the South, and to the strong working relationship we have with Laing O’Rourke, which made this event possible today.
“BAA Scotland is investing the equiavelent of £1m a week in Scotland and Edinburgh’s control tower is the most impressive and visible reflection of our commitment to Edinburgh Airport and to Scotland.”
Paul Barron, Chief Executive of NATS, added: “This Tower is testament to the strong and long standing relationship between NATS and BAA and our continued partnership to safely meet the future demand for air travel at one of the UK’s fastest growing airports. Our move to this new facility has been entirely seamless and we look forward to continuing to provide a first class air traffic control service in this first class control tower.”
For further information on BAA plc see www.baa.com
