Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is Scotland's busiest airport, handling over 2,500 flights per week. If you live in Edinburgh, East Lothian, or the Lothians, you're likely under Edinburgh's flight paths.
Why So Many Planes Over Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is a major hub for domestic UK flights, European routes, and transatlantic services. It's particularly busy during summer holidays and major events like the Edinburgh Festival.
Typical Aircraft You'll See
- Airbus A320 family — The dominant aircraft type (British Airways, easyJet, Loganair)
- Boeing 737 family — Short-haul routes (Ryanair, Jet2)
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner — Transatlantic routes (British Airways, Virgin Atlantic)
- Embraer E-Jets — Regional routes (Loganair)
Edinburgh Flight Paths
Edinburgh has a single runway (06/24) aligned roughly east-west:
Runway 24 Approaches (Westbound)
- Arrivals approach from the west over the Firth of Forth
- Common over: North Queensferry, North Berwick, Haddington, Musselburgh
Runway 06 Approaches (Eastbound)
- Arrivals approach from the east over the Pentland Hills
- Common over: Pentland Hills, Loanhead, Roslin, Bonnyrigg
Departures
- Climb paths head over the Firth of Forth (runway 24) or inland over the Pentlands (runway 06)
- Common over: South Queensferry, Dalkeith, and the A1 corridor
How to Identify Planes Over Edinburgh
What Plane? shows the nearest aircraft on your iPhone home screen. At Edinburgh, you'll frequently see:
- British Airways (BAW) — Domestic and European routes
- easyJet (EZY) — European short-haul
- Loganair (LOG) — Regional routes to the Highlands and Islands
- Ryanair (RYR) — European short-haul
- Virgin Atlantic (VIR) — Transatlantic routes
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