Edinburgh Airport Project

Kite Group supplied DDA handrails, crash barriers, and access ladders at Edinburgh Airport, improving pedestrian, vehicle, and maintenance safety.

Project Overview

Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport, handling over 14.7 million passengers annually and flying to more than 150 destinations worldwide. Its origins date back to 1916, when it opened as Turnhouse Aerodrome, a Royal Flying Corps base later operated by RAF Fighter Command throughout World War II.

Following decades of military use, the site was converted into a commercial airport under the Ministry of Aviation (1960), with ownership later passing to BAA (1971) and most recently to Global Infrastructure Partners (2020).

As a key contributor to the Scottish economy, generating nearly £1 billion annually, the airport required improved pedestrian, vehicle, and maintenance safety infrastructure to support its growth.

Did You Know?

The launch of the Edinburgh Tram line in 2014 (another Kite Group project) boosted airport footfall significantly. Interestingly, while passenger numbers increased, the number of flights decreased that year thanks to higher-capacity aircraft improving efficiency.

Kite’s Contribution

Kite Group enhanced safety standards across the airport’s entry, exit, and operational zones by supplying:

DDA Tube Clamp Handrail System – Installed at entry and exit points to ensure safe pedestrian movement and accessibility.
Crash Barrier Systems – Provided for parking zones, protecting fences, railway borders, and key structures from vehicle impact.
Access Ladder System – Installed to allow safe access to rooftops for technicians and engineers performing routine maintenance.

Together, these systems improved overall safety, compliance, and operational efficiency, supporting both passenger movements and maintenance activities.