International Pier - Airbridges

[Speedbird Julie]

We need drinks Bill

[Clive]

[
Fully agree. I think it was a good and necessary piece of business for GLA to 1. Land EK, 2. Keep them for so long 3. Build the lounge and A380 facilities. I do find it odd that people criticise GLA for doing that but would crucify them if the business was given away to EDI.

WRT exclusivity deals - quite possibly GLA had one with EK that lasted all those years.

Agree fully with points 1 & 2 but totally disagree with 3 mate. EDI, for no viable financial outlay whatsoever have the same as us. A daily flight to DXB. In this regard, it doesn't matter that it's a T7 v's our A380. They have EK daily to DXB, same as us. That's what the paying public will see. They also have other ME airlines operating, so what I'm saying is, if there's an exclusivity deal still in place, once it expires court the other airlines and stop being EK driven.
The whole EK lounge/A380 airbridges was in my opinion a vanity project. We could have put the millions spent on this to better use. EK played the aviation version of the honey trap. We walked right into it with our flies undone.
And, breathe.....

I believe that since EK restated EDI ops and not our second daily flight it’s open season for GLA bosses to court QR, et al. I still think GLA did right in laying out the red carpet for EK because it’s one of the few good things we have.

[Bearsden]

The statistics January 2019 v January 2025 tell it all . . .
Jan-19 Jan-25
EDINBURGH ISTANBUL 5,039 12,708 7,669 +152%
EDINBURGH DOHA 12,942 31,295 18,353 +142%
EDINBURGH DUBAI 13,443 15,749 2,306 +17%

GLASGOW DUBAI 36,338 26,485 -9,853 -27%

[egpffqtv]

The statistics January 2019 v January 2025 tell it all . . .
Jan-19 Jan-25
EDINBURGH ISTANBUL 5,039 12,708 7,669 +152%
EDINBURGH DOHA 12,942 31,295 18,353 +142%
EDINBURGH DUBAI 13,443 15,749 2,306 +17%

GLASGOW DUBAI 36,338 26,485 -9,853 -27%

Wow - eye opening. 27% decrease on DXB?!

[Clive]

Wow - eye opening. 27% decrease on DXB?!

We used to have two flights a day, mind.

Note to self - EK are not going to introduce a second daily flight if untapped demand is only 27%.

[egpffqtv]

Wow - eye opening. 27% decrease on DXB?!

We used to have two flights a day, mind.

Note to self - EK are not going to introduce a second daily flight if untapped demand is only 27%.

We used to have a lot of things until ‘the big airport’ poached them away from us

[FlyGLA]

The statistics January 2019 v January 2025 tell it all . . .
Jan-19 Jan-25
EDINBURGH ISTANBUL 5,039 12,708 7,669 +152%
EDINBURGH DOHA 12,942 31,295 18,353 +142%
EDINBURGH DUBAI 13,443 15,749 2,306 +17%

GLASGOW DUBAI 36,338 26,485 -9,853 -27%

And we all know where most of the passengers on these flights are really coming from and going to...

[FlyGLA]

Both easyJet and Ryanair will operate will all three piers. The FR Dub is almost always stand 9 or 5, if not it’s 6, 7 or 8. If they’re occupied then it’s any other stand in the airport. Stand 36 is the preferred stand on the international pier as inbound and outbound pax don’t cross paths so preboard is an option.

easyJet just the same will operate from anywhere. Typically all domestic arrivals come on east pier and all internationals are on intl, however international arrivals will go to east pier with pax bussed to arrivals if no space on the pier. easyJet will often send requests for hot spins - if they do its best to try get the aircraft on stands 3, 26 or 30L as they offer the most preboard space across the airport and preboarding can still start as inbound pax are disembarking regardless of activity on other stands.

As for the improvements that where put in place for EK, the airport did enough to be allowed the A380, but not enough to be fully licensed something that has caused a bit of a rift between GLA and EK which is slowly but surely going away. The second daily flight is something EK have always wanted to return as the A380 often has its hold space maxed out and cargo is lost to the likes of LH and BA, but, are only going to bring it back when the airport holds up its end of the bargain

Thanks for the detailed insight into GLA’s operations! A few questions come to mind:

Boarding Process & Airline Coordination
Are the changes to the boarding process, including pre-boarding areas, being implemented in conjunction with easyJet and Ryanair?
If so, do you think this collaboration will lead to increased flights, new routes, more based aircraft, or ideally, all three?


Emirates & A380 Operations
It sounds like Emirates originally intended to operate twice daily with the A380, but reading between the lines, are there specific restrictions on A380 night operations compared to daytime?

You mention that if GLA wants Emirates to restore the second daily flight, it must uphold its side of the agreement.

Are there any indications that GLA is actively working on these required improvements?

Is there any timeline or inclination on when the second daily Emirates flight could return?

Would be great to hear your thoughts!

[McG]

Does the taxiway need widened the full length, or only at specific pinch points?

Stand 32 is also back in use today. The old air bridge has been removed and all the large red and white blocks were collected and taken away.