VINCI acquires majority stake in Edinburgh Airport

Airport operator VINCI is seeking to acquire a majority stake in Edinburgh Airport in a deal worth £1.27 billion.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the agreement will see VINCI, which manages more than 70 airports worldwide, acquire a 50.01 per cent share in the Scottish hub.

The remaining 49.99 per cent stake will be managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which has owned the airport since 2012.

The transaction is expected to close this summer and will see the airport operator expand its UK network to three freehold airports after becoming the majority shareholder of Belfast International airport in 2018 and London Gatwick in 2019.

VINCI Airports, which also operates airports in Portugal, France, Mexico, Brazil and Japan, said in a statement it would leverage its “global airports experience” to further develop Edinburgh Airport by opening new routes and making additional investments. 

Edinburgh Airport reported a total revenue of £272 million in 2023, and an EBITDA margin of 65 per cent. It will be fully consolidated into VINICI’s group accounts. The airport’s current management team are expected to remain in place.