SCOTLAND’S two largest airports have experienced a bumper start to the year, with Edinburgh and Glasgow both reporting record passenger numbers for February.

A total of 770,265 people passed through the capital’s airport last month, making it a record February following a rise of 17.2 per cent on the previous year’s figure.

In terms of international passenger numbers, this represents a 30.4 per cent increase from February last year.

Glasgow Airport saw a 14.1 per cent increase, which took the number to 582,879 passengers for the month.

This follows positive figures for the airports for January as both reported annual increases in passenger numbers compared to 2015.

Gordon Dewar, chief executive at Edinburgh Airport, said: “February’s passenger numbers have broken another monthly record and act as further indication of just how big Edinburgh Airport’s global ambitions are.

“We have seen a massive increase of 30.4 per cent in the number of international passengers and this highlights the growing draw of Edinburgh as a prime global destination. And as we grow we deliver greater international links for this city and for Scotland.

“Edinburgh Airport and our partner airlines are continuing to offer greater choice with more routes and more destinations – and passengers are responding by flying in and out of Edinburgh directly in greater numbers than ever before.

“People ask me how much more Edinburgh Airport can grow in a country with little over five million people. It is not the five million I am worried about – but how the other seven billion across the globe get to visit us.”

At Glasgow, international traffic grew by 13.2 per cent, which bosses said was partly down to strong demand on European routes to Berlin, Reykjavik and Milan.

Aer Lingus also added capacity on its Dublin service, and Eurowings reported particularly strong demand on its Dusseldorf route.

Domestic services increased by 14.8 per cent, Flybe’s routes to Exeter and Cardiff also proved popular, and British Airways, Easyjet and Ryanair also reported strong demand for their London flights.

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “This year marks a huge milestone for the airport as we celebrate our golden anniversary year.

“What makes that even more exciting is the fact that we are continuing to see our passenger numbers grow at record rates, following our success in 2015 securing more than 30 new routes and services.

“We are continuing to make improvements in our airport to accommodate this growth and will be investing significantly this year in a comprehensive airside terminal redevelopment which will include new catering and retail outlets.

“Later this month we will welcome the first of our major new flag carriers when Air France launches its daily service to Paris.

“Over the coming months we will also begin new services to Montreal, Newquay and the Spanish city of Girona.”

February’s performance follows Glasgow reporting its busiest January on record and its busiest year since 2007. Annual passenger numbers grew by 13 per cent to over 8.7 million, ensuring the airport recorded its fifth consecutive year of growth and it being named one of Europe’s fastest growing airports.