A 20% increase in international passengers helped Edinburgh Airport achieve the busiest ever November for a Scottish Airport.

Edinburgh Airport, owned by Global Infrastructre Partners — which also owns Gatwick — said 860,966 passengers travelled through it last month.

Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said: “In what is traditionally one of the quiet months in aviation we have witnessed a 20% increase in passengers on international flights.

“We also have a healthy equilibrium of inbound and outbound passengers with the most balanced mix of any UK airport outside London.

“This fact, which reinforces the strength and appeal of Edinburgh as a destination and the global draw of Scotland, gives us greater confidence as we look at the opportunities and challenges ahead.

“But there can be no room for complacency — and Edinburgh Airport supports calls to abolish long haul Air Passenger Duty (APD).

“We warmly welcome the recognition that international connectivity is a key driver for Scotland’s economy.

“We now look forward to the Scottish Government publishing their plans and timetable which should back this position and also include the abolition — or substantial reduction — of APD on all international routes to and from Scotland, not just destinations over 2,000 miles.

“The greatest volume of our passengers fly to and from Europe — and it is a reduction of the tax on these European routes that will deliver a substantial increase in services and create jobs and economic prosperity here in Scotland.”