Anyone who's used Edinburgh Airport with any regularity knows that it comes in for some criticism, particularly in regard to charging for almost anything they can get away with and for security queue delays. Now, to be fair, my experience is the latter issue has improved somewhat over the last few years but I felt a new owner might shake things up and turn it into an international airport to be proud of.

So, when I saw the headline that the airport had a new owner, I was initially optimistic... until I read who it was: Paris-based Vinci, who own London Gatwick and Belfast International (aka Aldergrove). That's the same Belfast Int which regularly finishes low on airport ranking lists, the one which I know from a great many personal experiences has a pitifully bad reputation for its security waiting times and the lack of basic retail facilities as opposed to the duty free options. The only shop landslide is a WH Smith (newsagent/snacks etc) which is always closed well before the days final flights (and I'm talking a couple of hours or more).

Consider my optimism distinctly squashed!

OK, rant over. As you were!

Edited June 27, 20241 yr by 109Sqn
Typo

It always annoys me when British establishments are owned by companies in another country. We should be investing in our own infrastructure, not letting others cough up the cash.

Deleted, posted in wrong thread.

Edited June 27, 20241 yr by Fielder

Manchester EGCC is constantly voted the world’s worst airport , and the staff security there was absolutely terrible.

Apart from one old guy on the X-ray machine who’d take great delight in correctly identifying the ready meals in my bag using his x-ray skills!

” Today it’s ……..shepherd’s pie?” 

4 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

It always annoys me when British establishments are owned by companies in another country. We should be investing in our own infrastructure, not letting others cough up the cash.

Feel the same way about my own country. We can't be conquered militarily but we can sure be bought off.

Heathrow has multiple foreign owners who just buy it for the prestige and use it as a cash cow. British Airways was once fully British owned. No longer I’m afraid.

As for Manchester airport it’s owned by many of the local councils in Gtr Manchester but I’ve never seen anything on my Council Tax bill showing how much it’s reduced by.

As for getting to the airport by private car or taxi there’s a 5GBP entry charge for max 5 mins. So a taxi for an 3 mile journey costs 20GBP. Instead I get a local bus that takes me virtually door to door for 2 GBP and runs every 15 mins.

The motorist and traveller is treated with contempt by airports throughout the country. It’s probably going to get worse in 7 days time too. 🤨

6 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

It always annoys me when British establishments are owned by companies in another country. We should be investing in our own infrastructure, not letting others cough up the cash.

It should do more than annoy you, it should alarm you, the pounds sterling exiting the country and your infrastructure beholden to individuals who do not have the best interest of the UK at heart.   When all countries and individuals act benevolently, then perhaps this sort of thing can be fine.  Unfortunately, that is not the reality of today.  Bad actors abound.

1 hour ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

The motorist and traveller is treated with contempt by airports throughout the country. It’s probably going to get worse in 7 days time too. 🤨

That’s pretty cryptic Ray. Care to expand on this?🤔

6 hours ago, DD_Arthur said:

That’s pretty cryptic Ray. Care to expand on this?🤔

I can’t as it would break forum rules. Look at what’s happening on 4 July in GB and the likely winner.

I am not 100% positive, but i think LPPT here in Lisboa is also owned by Vinci (or used to). Needless to say it's a sad experience having to use their services. If not owned by Vinci, whoever is there isn't doing good either.

Edited June 28, 20241 yr by Nuno Pinto

3 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

I can’t as it would break forum rules. 

Well that's a relief.

If there were airports and flights in America with no security at all at the terminals (fly at your own risk), then I fly from these no hassle, no inspection locations every single time. What, me worry?

On 6/28/2024 at 3:59 AM, Christopher Low said:

It always annoys me when British establishments are owned by companies in another country. We should be investing in our own infrastructure, not letting others cough up the cash.

That's not the way to make money, you invest offshore to get larger returns on your investment by also changing money overseas. UK companies invest offshore for better returns, and you end up with a mix of foreign investors in your domestic market. I think the Ontario School Teachers Pension Plan own quite a chunk of the UK airports, Infrastructure and the the Camelot Group which run the Lotteries, but to be honest their is nothing to fear about Ontario School Teachers, they own most of the world now anyways and are probably the best investors at this point. 

If anyone wants to retire a millionaire, become an Ontario School Teacher