Latest news with #FrancescaOsowska
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Airport branded 'embarrassing' and 'unacceptable' by business leaders
Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The state of Edinburgh Airport has been branded "completely unacceptable' and 'frankly embarrassing' by business leaders, who warn that without urgent improvements it risks damaging Scotland's reputation among international visitors. Chairman of Brechin City Football Club, Kevin Mackie, criticised the airport in a post on LinkedIn after a negative experience landing in Edinburgh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad His post read: 'Last week, I returned to Edinburgh Airport landing at 01:20am and what greeted me well over 100 metres from passport control was frankly embarrassing. 'Is this really the first impression we want to give international tourists arriving in Scotland?' He continued: 'Worse still, the moment the plane doors opened, the experience turned into something resembling a gym workout mixed with an endurance challenge.' 'How on earth are we meant to welcome elderly international visitors when they're forced to climb steep staircases, walk excessive distances, and navigate terminals where moving walkways exist only for departing passengers, not those arriving?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Edinburgh Airport welcomed a record 15.8 million passengers in 2024 | Anadolu via Getty Images It comes soon after chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Francesca Osowska, also took to social media to express outrage at the airport's 'filthy' toilets and arrivals hall. She wrote on X: 'Where Scotland meets the world. What must the world think?' Another top class performance by @EDI_Airport. Arrivals hall is filthy, toilets dirty & despite the Porto flight arriving before the Dubai flight, guess which bags were delivered first? Another one hour + wait for bags. 'Where Scotland meets the world'. What must the world think? — Francesca Osowska (@Fosowska) July 1, 2025 Mr Mackie's post received over 2,000 reactions and more than 700 comments. Andrew Murphy OBE, the Group Chief Executive of toy retailer TEAL Group, commented: 'I travel through the airport twice every week and have done for the last 17 years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'In the same time I've travelled through more than 50 foreign airports - the vast majority of which put Edinburgh (and Glasgow for that matter) to shame. 'Many of these airports are in countries with fewer resources than the UK. Airports seem to be a source of some pride for these places - whereas ours are an embarrassment.' Another user called the airport a 'shambolic introduction' to the capital city and said Scots feel 'ashamed' about the first impression it might give to visitors from abroad. Mr Mackie described exiting the airport as like a "gym session" | Bloomberg via Getty Images A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: "Constructive feedback is essential to our growth. Each month, we survey more than 50,000 passengers and act on that feedback, and we are proud that the vast majority of responses are positive. However, we recognise that there's always room for improvement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Our infrastructure has evolved alongside our growing passenger numbers. We've expanded the terminal as needed, all while maintaining a busy and complex operation. Over the next few years, our terminal expansion plans will address many of those issues as we transform that infrastructure to prepare for future growth. "Aviation is a team game and we work closely with a range of partners across the terminal, including agencies like Border Force, who manage specific areas. We all have a responsibility to ensure our operations are performing as well as possible and rectify issues where that isn't the case." In June, Edinburgh Airport was given a 'needs improvement' rating by the aviation regulator after failing to meet the grade for assisting disabled passengers in a 'timely manner'. The Civil Aviation Authority said this was 'primarily due to operational issues caused by a change of contractor for its service provider earlier in the year, which now appears to be resolved'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In its response, Edinburgh Airport said the rating was awarded during a "particularly challenging time' and was now routinely meeting a 'very good' standard. Prestwick Airport was also rated as 'needing improvement' for assisting passengers with reduced mobility. Edinburgh Airport is undergoing significant expansion. In May, its Chief Executive said a five-year programme of investment was underway as passenger numbers soared. New aircraft stands, more flight departure gates and an expansion of the terminal's south-east pier are among planned works.
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Student satisfaction rising but still below pre-Covid level
Approximately 25,000 of the 350,000 total responses came from students at Scottish universities. In addition to questions about specific aspects of their university experience, students are asked to rate their overall satisfaction with their course on a sliding scale. Overall satisfaction in Scotland for 2025 was 80.7%, up from 78.1% in 2024. Satisfaction levels began to decline in 2020, when the overall rate in Scotland was 85%. Read more Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said improvement should be commended. 'The experience of students at university during and immediately after the pandemic was inevitably affected despite the best efforts of Scottish universities to alleviate the situation. 'It's great to see the continuation of an upward trend in overall satisfaction in the sector. It shows the positive impact of focusing on student needs and the quality of learning and teaching.' The survey comprised 28 questions about general education, with additional questions tailored to students in healthcare placements and opportunities for open-ended responses. Survey responses are organised by students' mode of study (part-time, full-time, or apprenticeship), their subject area, and whether they were studying for their first degree, a combined postgraduate degree, or some other type of undergraduate degree. Results for individual universities are not made available in the public data released by the Office for Students (OfS), the organisation responsible for managing the survey. The survey ran from 8 January to 30 April, 2025. Since then, there have been multiple local disputes between union members and individual universities over potential job cuts and other savings measures. Following an evidence session in March about potential financial mismanagement at the University of Dundee, MSPs have held several high-profile meetings with university leaders to discuss issues related to salary and sector funding. Earlier this week, UCU Scotland said that six-figure principal salaries had become a "distraction" from attempts to secure more public funding for the university sector. A representative of Scottish university principals told The Herald that they are "prepared to explore" conversations about pay.
Scotsman
07-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
You're welcome to Scotland's unwelcoming landing party
Scottish Funding Council chief executive Francesca Osowska Many years ago, when I worked for the Scottish Government, I was part of a team that developed a campaign to encourage people to live and work in as well as visit Scotland. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of the key elements was a series of billboard posters placed at key 'points of entry', in other words, airports. We wanted people to get a good impression of our beautiful country as soon as they arrived. Today, when a visitor from overseas lands at Edinburgh airport they are more likely to be faced with chaos, filthy chaos at that. Last week, Francesca Osowska, head of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), was so fed up with the Capital's airport that she took to social media to express her frustration. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On arriving home from Portugal she tweeted sarcastically, 'Another top class performance by @EDI_Airport. Arrivals hall is filthy, toilets dirty & despite the Porto flight arriving before the Dubai flight, guess which bags were delivered first? Another one hour + wait for bags.' She ended her rant with the question, 'Where Scotland meets the world. What must the world think?' Her outburst was met with a chorus of agreement. 'A national embarrassment' said one. 'Filthy, industrial, uninviting, soul-less, chaotic, impersonal,' said another. And a third summed up the problem when he said, 'We're so behind the rest of world when it comes to a 'welcome''. No doubt Ms Osowska is now embarrassed by the attention her social media post attracted, and Edinburgh Airport did not mince its words in its public response to her. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A spokesman said: '…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.' Around 16 million people are expected to pass through Edinburgh airport this year and during the peak summer months there will be 60,000 a day. Things are bound to go wrong occasionally, but Francesca Osowska is right to highlight the terminal's shortcomings. Compared to many European airports, Edinburgh is a bit of a mess. Despite a recent extension, it still seems far too small for the number of passengers. Visitors deserve a better welcome.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘What must the world think?': Edinburgh airport slammed as ‘filthy' by Scottish quango chief
Edinburgh Airport is so 'filthy' it compromises Scotland 's international reputation, a leading Scottish chief executive has said. After a negative experience at Scotland's busiest airport, Francesca Osowska, chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), took to social media to express her disgust. 'Another top class performance by @EDI_Airport,' she began sarcastically. '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 + wait for bags.' The former triathlete, who was awarded an OBE for services to government and the Commonwealth Games in the Queen's New Year Honours in January 2015, added: ''Where Scotland meets the world'. What must the world think?' she finished. A second X user agreed with Ms Osowska's comments, writing: 'The Arrivals Hall at EDI is an embarrassment. 'Filthy, industrial, uninviting, soulless, chaotic, impersonal. I could not agree more. Please don't ask me about the road link in or the £5 drop off charge!!' And a third added: 'And the trek to passport control and the lengthy queues there add to the terrible experience for international arrivals. A national embarrassment.' Baggage handling and other ground services are outsourced to contractors who work with airlines and are not provided by the airport. In response to the comments, a spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport told The Times: '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.' The Independent has reached out to Edinburgh Airport for comment. Ms Osowska's comments come just days after a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) report named Edinburgh Airport as 'needing improvement' in the accessibility assistance offered to passengers with reduced mobility (PRM). The transport hub was marked down for failing to meet 'the standards for the provision of assistance in a timely manner'. The CAA said this was 'primarily due to operational issues caused by a change of contractor for its service provider earlier in the year'. A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: 'As the CAA's report states, this rating was given to the airport during a particularly challenging time for our PRM operation, due to a change of provider, staff shortages, and a surge in demand for the service. 'Our goal remains to return to and maintain a 'good' or 'very good' rating.'
Scottish Sun
03-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major Scots airport slammed for being ‘filthy' and damaging country's reputation
The boss of a Scottish Government agency slammed the state of the terminal RUN AWAY Major Scots airport slammed for being 'filthy' and damaging country's reputation Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Edinburgh Airport is the country's busiest, supporting 30,000 jobs and contributing £1.4bn to the economy 2 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.
