The leaders and chief executives of the eight local authorities that comprise the Glasgow City Region (GCR) visited Glasgow Airport where they heard about the important role the airport plays in supporting the growth of what is one of the largest UK city regions and Scotland’s economic powerhouse.
The Cabinet met with Kam Jandu, chief executive of AGS Airports which was acquired by one of the world's leading private airport operators, AviAlliance, earlier this year. The new ownership subsequently announced plans to invest £350 million in the future growth and decarbonisation of AGS over the course of the next five years.
Included within the investment will be a comprehensive transformation of Glasgow Airport’s main terminal building delivering best in class operational and retail facilities for passengers. The programme will also direct investment into airfield infrastructure and energy efficiency initiatives. Not only will this significantly enhance the passenger experience, it will also ensure the airport is equipped to meet the growing and future demand from both customers and airline partners.
The Cabinet’s visit coincided with the publication of the GCR’s latest performance report which sets out significant progress that has been made 10 years on from the announcement of the £1.13 billion City Deal. Funded by the UK and Scottish Governments, the Deal, one of the largest and most advanced in the UK, has delivered over £550 million in local infrastructure investment to date across the eight local council areas and is estimated to have attracted more than £880 million worth of follow-on investment since 2014.
Kam Jandu, chief executive of AGS, said: “It was a pleasure to host the Glasgow City Region (GCR) cabinet which provided an opportunity to discuss the critical role the airport plays in supporting the sustainable and inclusive growth of Scotland’s economic powerhouse.
“As the GCR economy expands, so must its global connectivity in order to attract inward investment, boost tourism, promote innovation and support the continued internationalisation of our region's economy. I look forward to working in partnership with the Cabinet to deliver economic growth across the region.”