Following the Scottish Executive's announcement of the proposed £4billion Scottish infrastructure expenditure, the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow announced that they are to jointly carry out a short feasibility study into the potential benefits of a central Scottish airport.

The idea of a single airport to replace both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports was mooted twenty years ago and a considerable amount of work was carried out. At that time the idea did not make sense for a variety of reasons, including weather and the cost of the necessary infrastructure improvements.

Since then air travel has become very much more popular and economically much more important. Passenger volumes have risen dramatically and both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports appear to be under constant expansion. But both have physical constraints in terms of area and, although both are relatively close to their respective city centre, neither has ideal facilities for rapid access by road and neither has any access by rail.

Most important of all, having two airports divides the potential pool of passengers. The central Scottish population is large enough to create demand for a number of international connections but splitting that demand means that many will travel outside Scotland to make their connection.

Without the Executive's recent commitment to infrastructure improvements, the cost of creating links to a new airport would be too great. But the scale of the proposed improvements means that there is a golden opportunity to review overall transportation needs on an integrated basis looking forward to what Scotland will need in 20 years' time.

The incremental cost of a change in approach appears to be low. Having a high speed rail link going from Edinburgh to Glasgow via a new central airport has potential advantages over the alternative of separate links to two separate airports ﾖ and there is no doubt that today rapid access to airports is essential.

Environmentally, having one airport rather than two probably is preferable. With the removal of flights flying over Edinburgh and Glasgow, the number of people benefiting probably would exceed those adversely affected by a new airport. It would be important to ensure that those adversely affected are appropriately compensated.

The study will focus in broad terms on the long-term benefits that a new airport might bring together with a provisional appraisal. BAA have offered to provide technical assistance and the expectation is that the feasibility study will be published around the end of January 2003.

Lord Sutherland, the Principal of the University of Edinburgh, has nominated Professor Brian Main to head their team and Sir Graeme Davies, Principal of the University of Glasgow is in the process of nominating the Glasgow team. The joint project will be administered by the David Hume Institute. Professor Sir Graeme Davies commented, ' I am delighted that Glasgow University will be playing such a significant role in this project which may prove to have far-reaching results. Our team will work closely with Edinburgh University to study the longterm implications of this proposal.'

Supporters of the concept of a central Scottish airport include businessmen from both sides of the country. They include entrepreneur Sir Tom Farmer, Sir George Mathewson of Royal Bank of Scotland, Jim Forbes of Scottish and Southern Energy, Sir Brian Stewart of Scottish & Newcastle, Ian Russell of Scottish Power, Dr Iain Anderson of BT Scotland, Iain Wotherspoon of Kilmartin Properties and Peter Burt of HBOS.

Peter Lederer of VisitScotland are enthusiastic supporters of the concept, as are Lord Sutherland, Principal of the University of Edinburgh and Sir Graeme Davies, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor Glasgow University.

Mike Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of BAA, the owner of both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports said: 'Anything which is in Scotland's long-term interest and which makes commercial sense for BAA is something we will support.' He added a note of caution on the basis that this Central Scotland airport idea had been studied before in the early 80s and rejected at that time on economic grounds.

Such a project would need to have the support of the community, politicians and relevant planning authorities given the large scale public sector investment that would be required to deliver the necessary transport infrastructure to the new airport.

As part of this support it would also be necessary to ensure that the concerns of environmental groups and the travelling public were met. However, given the timescale for the development of a single new lowlands airport it should be possible to alleviate most concerns. While there would be implications for both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports and the jobs provided at these airports, it would take many years to build a replacement airport with all its associated infrastructure. I

It is hoped that this study will clarify whether in the longer term a new lowlands airport could be a positive development for the community as a whole. Airports have been a major engine of economic growth in Scotland and throughout the world and it is clearly possible that a single lowlands airport could enhance the growth of Scotland's economy and assist the development of direct international services.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

For further information, please contact:

Peter Burt and Brian Main on 0131 243 5400 (until 3pm, 26/9/02) or Brian Main on 0131 650 8360 (after 3pm, 26/9/02).

Alternatively, please call the University of Glasgow Press Office on 0141 330 3535

First published: 26 September 2002