US Pre-clearance - Edinburgh

[Trekkie101]

According to the EACC Report - US Pre-clearance is in development

Currently costing £170,000 in development costs, with a project delivery date of January 2024.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/2hwzhse7szu0/76rB86KREp4qz6yvsADWJJ/65a2ff07d4e334f3967f1b048fb336f6/2023_Q1_EACC_report.pdf

[Planeenthusiast]

According to the EACC Report - US Pre-clearance is in development

Currently costing £170,000 in development costs, with a project delivery date of January 2024.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/2hwzhse7szu0/76rB86KREp4qz6yvsADWJJ/65a2ff07d4e334f3967f1b048fb336f6/2023_Q1_EACC_report.pdf

Some interesting projects under way certainly. £170K spend for US Pre-clearance development is a tiny amount. Sounds like consultancy fees ahead of a final decision to formally apply or otherwise. The 77m capital spending for terminal extension is also a fairly small amount in the grander scheme of things. A couple more gates that can take wide-body aircraft? Some new air bridges?

[viscount]

First of all thanks for the invite to join this forum.

At present I can't see where there would put pre clearance. I just flew out to ZRH and had the worst airport experience I ever had.

The check in area was like a football ground on cup final you could not move in the checkin hall at present the airport needs to use both Int.1 and Int.2 for arrivals

It would appear that United use Int 1 and Delta use Int 2
Don't forget Virgin. Tui. Air Canada. Westjet. or Qatar It dose not allow for much room to have a area for pre clearance area.

[viscount]

Here is the bit concerning expansion at the airport

2.2 Summary of key projects
Terminal Infrastructure Expansion (Value £77m)
The Terminal Expansion project is a long-term project to address operational capacity issues across connectivity, gate rooms, immigration, check-in and retail. The project will be delivered in multiple phases over the next 7 years.

Major Runway Rehab (Value £24m)
The major Runway Rehabilitation project will relief the runway for the next 10-15 years. A full resurfacing exercise will be undertaken in winter 2025-26.

EAST Access Road (Value £21m)
The EAST Access Road project will provide resilience to the airport, creating a 2nd access from the Gogar Roundabout interchange. The project is currently on hold following the rejected planning application.

Water Quality (Value £20m)
EAL are working closely with SEPA on the Water Quality project which provides an enhanced ability to capture de-icing runoff, it will improve the water quality across all adjacent watercourses.

Security Futures (Value £18m)
The Security Futures project is scheduled to commence construction in Q2 2023. The project will complete in early 2025 and provide enhanced security control within the passenger search area.
Global Airpark Phase 1 (Value £5m)
The Global Airpark project will provide additional cargo capacity at the east of the campus near Turnhouse. Phase 1 is due to complete in 2026.

Echo Taxiway Rehabilitation (Value £4m)
The Echo taxiway rehabilitation project has passed through TG2. A temporary relocation of the taxiway centreline will be completed in Q1 2023 to mitigate further damage to the pavement concrete along the centreline. Full scale removal and reinstatement of the taxiway is scheduled for winter 23-24 after design has completed.

No mention of pre clearance, but it may have changed since this was published

[Planeenthusiast]

First of all thanks for the invite to join this forum.

At present I can't see where there would put pre clearance. I just flew out to ZRH and had the worst airport experience I ever had.

The check in area was like a football ground on cup final you could not move in the checkin hall at present the airport needs to use both Int.1 and Int.2 for arrivals

It would appear that United use Int 1 and Delta use Int 2
Don't forget Virgin. Tui. Air Canada. Westjet. or Qatar It dose not allow for much room to have a area for pre clearance area.


As I understand the plans from a contact at EDI, the airport is in discussions with TSA to have a separate screening area at the existing security area (which is being expanded as part of the general plans). The relevant checks etc will be carried out allowing pax to enter the departure lounge like regular pax. There would be no requirement for a secure US departures only wing like Dublin. This would be a pilot scheme.

[Trekkie101]

The video by US CBP doesn't mention it needing to be a separate gate. I'd imagine Edinburgh would wangle either a bus into the game or maybe have a document needed before boarding - much in the way they do ad-hoc 'SSSS' secondary screening?

https://www.cbp.gov/video/opa/preclearance/preclearance-curb-to-curb.mp4

[Planeenthusiast]

The video by US CBP doesn't mention it needing to be a separate gate. I'd imagine Edinburgh would wangle either a bus into the game or maybe have a document needed before boarding - much in the way they do ad-hoc 'SSSS' secondary screening?

https://www.cbp.gov/video/opa/preclearance/preclearance-curb-to-curb.mp4

Correct. I believe the proposal is for all US bound pax, post security to clear the CBP process in an area within or next to the security hall. The security hall expansion is believed to be fairly extensive which would tie-in with an area for the US entry requirements.

[viscount]

With the new security moving into the office space, I wonder what will happen to the fast track bridge from the car park as that will now enter into the new security hall

[Planeenthusiast]

It would appear that EDI is a strong candidate for a simplified version of pre-clearance. Could be a game changer and increase the likliehood of more US routes.

https://www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/after-covid-shocks-capitals-airport

[viscount]

My thoughts are if they are pushing for this they will differently need to spend a lot of money on terminal expansion now.

[Trekkie101]

It does seem to be coming...

[viscount]

I wonder if the airport had pre clearance if it would attract airlines like Norse