Edinburgh Airport Airspace Change Consultation

Closes 25 Jan 2026

Opened 20 Oct 2025

Contact

0131 348 4299

whats-your-view@edinburghairport.com

Overview

Edinburgh Airport is undertaking an airspace change to modernise its flight paths, a necessary step to improve safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. This change is part of a broader initiative under the UK Airspace Modernisation Strategy, which aims to update the nation's outdated airspace design, much of which has remained unchanged since the 1970s.

Why Modernise Airspace? The UK Government, alongside the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has embarked on a comprehensive programme to modernise airspace across the country. The current airspace design is no longer suitable to handle the increasing volume of air traffic efficiently or to incorporate advancements in navigation technology. Modernising airspace involves adopting new technologies like Performance Based Navigation (PBN), which enables aircraft to follow more precise and predictable flight paths by specifying navigation performance requirements rather than relying solely on conventional ground-based navigational aids. This leads to several benefits, including reduced fuel consumption, lower carbon emissions, and minimised noise pollution.

Previous Activity Edinburgh Airport has been actively engaged in the airspace change process since 2016. Initial efforts focused on developing design principles and conducting early consultations with stakeholders, including local communities and the aviation industry. Feedback from these engagements has been instrumental in shaping the current proposals. Although a previous proposal was not approved in 2018, valuable lessons were learned, and these have been incorporated into the new plans.

Why Your Opinion Matters We are now in Stage 3 of the CAA's airspace change process, where we refine our proposals based on detailed feedback from the public and other stakeholders. Your opinion is essential for several reasons:

  • Community Impact: Changes in flight paths can affect noise levels and air quality in your area. Your feedback helps us design routes that minimise these impacts.
  • Environmental Concerns: Your insights contribute to strategies for reducing the environmental footprint of air travel, ensuring that our proposals align with sustainability goals.
  • Operational Feedback: Input from frequent flyers, pilots, and industry professionals helps ensure the new airspace design is practical, safe, and efficient.

The consultation process is designed to be transparent and inclusive, providing you with a meaningful opportunity to influence the final decisions. By sharing your views, you help us create a balanced proposal that meets the needs of all stakeholders.

In summary, the airspace change at Edinburgh Airport is a vital part of a nationwide effort to modernise our skies, improve operational efficiency, and reduce environmental impacts. Your feedback is crucial to ensuring these changes benefit the community and the wider aviation industry.

We will be running a series of webinars and in-person events, which you can see on the Events page. 

Why your views matter

Your views are crucial to the success of Edinburgh Airport's airspace change proposal. As a member of the local community, a frequent flyer, or an aviation industry stakeholder, your feedback provides invaluable insights that help shape a safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly airspace.

Impact on Local Communities Your daily life could be directly affected by changes in flight paths. Noise levels, air quality, and the overall tranquillity of the places where you live and work are important considerations. By sharing your experiences and concerns, you help ensure that the proposed changes minimise negative impacts and enhance the quality of life for those living near the airport.

Environmental Considerations The airspace change aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency. However, achieving these goals requires a balance with community needs and environmental protection. Your input helps identify the most effective ways to reduce the environmental impact of air travel, making the proposal more sustainable.

Operational Efficiency and Safety Feedback from those who use and rely on the airport's operations, including pilots, airlines, and regular passengers, is vital for understanding the practical implications of the proposed changes. Your perspectives help ensure that the new airspace design enhances safety and operational efficiency without causing undue disruption.

Informed Decision-Making Your views contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the potential impacts of the airspace change. The consultation process is designed to be inclusive and transparent, adhering to the Gunning Principles, which ensure meaningful engagement. By voicing your opinions, you play a key role in holding the airport accountable and ensuring that decisions are made based on thorough consideration of all stakeholder concerns.

Give us your views

Online Survey

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Events