{"schema_version":1,"citation_url":"https://www.loungefrog.com/news/edinburgh-airport-500m-vinci-expansion-lounges","title":"Edinburgh Airport's £500m expansion will grow the terminal 60%, but members' lounges go unmentioned","description":"VINCI Airports and GIP will spend £500m at Edinburgh over five years, with phase one due in summer 2027. What it means for EDI's four lounges.","author":"Patrick Karsh","publisher":"Lounge Frog","date_published":"2026-10-08T17:39:12.339122Z","date_modified":"2026-10-14T23:51:57.349118Z","body_markdown":"![Photo from corporate.edinburghairport.com's coverage of mark johnston appointed new ceo of edinburgh airport.](https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/44003a8f-900d-4a76-8cf6-6548a99aee3c/71db14bd9c8cd56651eee3feb3e4a1f8.jpg)\n\nEdinburgh Airport (EDI) is about to get a lot bigger. Its owners, VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), will put more than £500 million (about $670 million) into the airport over the next five years. The airport calls it [the biggest investment in its history](https://corporate.edinburghairport.com/edinburgh-airport-announces-gbp500million-investment-plan).\n\nThe plan was unveiled on Sept. 22, and [Future Travel Experience](https://www.futuretravelexperience.com/2026/10/vinci-airports-announces-500m-investment-to-enhance-cx-at-edinburgh-airport/) covered it again on Oct. 4. The headline number: the terminal will grow by 60%.\n\n## What's being built\n\nThe airport calls the program \"Our Future.\" It says the five-year plan is only the first phase of a longer vision. The work includes:\n\n- **New gates** to support new routes.\n- **New aircraft stands**, so more planes can park and turn around.\n- **A larger check-in hall and departure lounge.**\n- **New and better shops, restaurants and bars.**\n- **New international arrivals facilities**, plus new baggage areas.\n- **More electric vehicle charging** and a new access road.\n\nThe airport's [project page](https://corporate.edinburghairport.com/our-future/terminal-and-airfield-projects) adds detail. The South East Pier extension is a two-story building with eight gates, new seating, shops and more restrooms. Work on it began in June 2025. A separate airfield project will create seven stands with jet bridges.\n\nThe departure area will gain 4,000 square meters, about 43,000 square feet, on a double-height first floor. It will include a food market and more gate seating. A new security hall will have room for up to 10 lanes. International arrivals will grow by 5,000 square meters, with more e-Gates and desks. The project page does not give dates for most of these pieces.\n\nThe airport says the first phase is due to fully open in summer 2027.\n\n## Why Edinburgh is spending\n\nEdinburgh is Scotland's busiest airport. It handled almost 17 million passengers in 2025, up from about 9 million in 2012. VINCI bought its majority stake in 2024.\n\nThe airport says the extra space will support new long-haul and short-haul routes to Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. No new routes or airlines were named.\n\nGordon Dewar, the airport's chief executive at the time, said: \"This is the biggest investment in Edinburgh Airport's history.\" He added: \"Our growth has cemented our position as Scotland's busiest and best connected airport.\"\n\nRémi Maumon de Longevialle, CEO of VINCI Airports, said in VINCI's version of the release: \"Edinburgh has become a strategic airport within the VINCI Airports network.\"\n\nScotland's First Minister, John Swinney, visited the site. \"This significant investment will enable Edinburgh Airport to compete with airports around the world,\" he said.\n\nThe airport has a new leader to see the work through. Dewar stepped down after 14 years. Mark Johnston, who was chief operating officer at [London Gatwick](/airports/lgw), [took over on Oct. 1](https://corporate.edinburghairport.com/mark-johnston-appointed-new-ceo-of-edinburgh-airport). He previously ran [Glasgow Airport](/airports/gla).\n\n## What it means for lounges\n\nIn British airports, the \"departure lounge\" is the main airside waiting area that everyone uses. It is not a members' lounge. Neither release mentions new or larger members' lounges, so it is not yet clear whether any of EDI's lounges will grow, move or be joined by new ones.\n\nThat matters, because the terminal does not rate well with us. Lounge Frog rates the Main Terminal 3.1 out of 5. It scores 2 for check-in, cleanliness, dining and shopping. Several of those are exactly what this plan targets.\n\nAll four Edinburgh lounges in our data sit airside in the Main Terminal:\n\n- [British Airways Lounge](/lounges/edi-british-airways-lounge), near gate 4, is the top-rated at 4.6. It is open to BA business passengers, Executive Club Silver and Gold members, and oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members on a same-day oneworld flight. Elites can bring one guest. Open 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.\n- [Aspire Lounge](/lounges/edi-aspire-lounge), upstairs near gate 16, rates 4.1. It has runway views and takes [Priority Pass](/programs/priority-pass), LoungeKey and [DragonPass](/programs/dragonpass), plus paid entry for anyone with a boarding pass.\n- [Turkish Airlines Lounge by Plaza Premium Group](/lounges/edi-turkish-airlines-lounge), [Turkish Airlines](/airlines/%74k)' first branded lounge in the UK, rates 3.6. It is open to Turkish business passengers, Star Alliance Gold members, Priority Pass and DragonPass members (space permitting), and paying guests.\n- [Escape Lounge](/lounges/edi-escape-lounge), next to the BA lounge, rates 3.1. It opened in 2025 and takes Priority Pass, LoungeKey, DragonPass and walk-ins.\n\nNone of the four has showers in our listings. For more on Turkish, see our story on [its order for up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX jets](/news/turkish-airlines-150-737-max-order-september-2026). Full details are on our [Edinburgh airport page](/airports/edi).\n\n## What I'd still want confirmed\n\nThe airport has not said whether any members' lounges will expand or move. It has not given dates for most projects beyond the first phase in summer 2027. It has not named new routes or airlines, or said how the work will affect travelers during construction. We will update this story when Edinburgh shares more.","link_base":"https://www.loungefrog.com/news/edinburgh-airport-500m-vinci-expansion-lounges","citation_guidance":"Cite citation_url. Preserve source links, dates and qualifications. date_modified is an edit date, not proof that every claim was rechecked. Third-party images and quoted material retain their own rights."}