Major Scots airport slammed for being ‘filthy' and damaging country's reputation
RUN AWAY Major Scots airport slammed for being 'filthy' and damaging country's reputation
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SCOTLAND'S busiest airport is so 'filthy' it risks damaging the country's reputation overseas, a top quango boss claims.
Scottish Funding Council chief Francesca Osowska blasted the state of the terminal and public loos and hit out at the time it took for her luggage to be unloaded from a flight from Portugal.
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Edinburgh Airport is the country's busiest, supporting 30,000 jobs and contributing £1.4bn to the economy
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More than 50,000 people pass through the terminal every day during the summer holidays
Her agency divvies out public cash for educational institutions and has been heavily involved in bailing out stricken Dundee University — with a rescue package which could eventually top £62million.
Ms Osowska also took aim at the jet hub's 'where Scotland meets the world' slogan in an online rant.
She said: 'Another top class performance by Edinburgh Airport.
'Arrivals hall is filthy, toilets dirty and despite the Porto flight arriving before the Dubai flight, guess which bags were delivered first?
'Another one-hour-plus wait for bags.
'What must the world think?'
Edinburgh Airport is used by more than 12 million passengers every year, with routes to 150 destinations served by 34 airlines.
It helps bring in £1.4bn to the nation's economy and supports nearly 30,000 jobs.
During peak times, including school holidays, more than 60,000 people move through the terminal every day.
French firm Vinci — which operates London Gatwick — took over the airport last year in a £1.3bn deal and has vowed to increase connections, make it more green and improve the flying experience for customers.
Drunk offshore worker causes carnage on Scotland-bound easyJet flight after partner dumps him
Cambridge University economics graduate Ms Osowska landed the role of chief executive with the Scottish Funding Council in January, with job listings offering a salary of up to £148,000.
An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: 'Constructive feedback is important.
'We survey more than 50,000 of our passengers every month, and those scores are overwhelmingly positive.
'But, as with any business or organisation — including ones in the public sector like the Scottish Funding Council — we know we won't always get it right.
'The complex nature and range of partners involved in airport operations are often misunderstood.
'While it's easy to share personal frustrations in 240 characters, it's not as easy to explain those intricacies.
'We're happy to engage constructively and offer clarity wherever we can.'
Ms Osowska, from Cumbria, has held a number of senior public sector roles, including leading environment agency Naturescot and serving as principle private secretary to late First Minister Alex Salmond between 2007 and 2009.
Holidaymakers travelling through Edinburgh Airport were left searching for bags due to a string of issues three years ago.
Hundreds of missing items were held in storage at the terminal, with some waiting weeks for their cases to be returned.
Baggage handling and other ground services are handled by contractors who work directly with airlines.
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