Huge news for budget travellers as top supermarket chain expands to UK airports
PASSENGERS flying from Edinburgh may want to pack their Nectar Card in the future, as Sainsbury’s is set to open its first-ever airport store.
A Sainsbury’s store will replace the M&S Simply Food store at Edinburgh Airport in the coming months.
The store will be located before airport security, making it ideal for any last-minute grabs or those holidaymakers touching down after their hols.
It is not yet known when the store will open and whether prices will be inflated because of the shop’s airport location.
However, the announcement will be welcome news for budget-friendly travellers.
The news comes as part of a wave of new openings set to take place at the Scottish airport in the next few months.
A new Pizza Express venue is slated to open in the departures hall.
Seoul Bird – a Korean fried chicken brand – will also open its first airport franchise and first Scottish outlet at Edinburgh Airport.
It’s good news for holidaymakers who enjoy an airport pint, as Edinburgh Airport’s BrewDog bar will be moved to a larger site,
There will be a wider choice of draft beers for passengers to choose from as well as an expanded food menu.
According to Business Traveller, BrewDog will replace Hudson St Grill, which is close to gate 11.
Commenting on the news Gail Taylor, chief commercial officer (non-Aero) at Edinburgh Airport, said: “We’re always looking to provide the very best choice to our passengers and meet the demand for the things they want, whether it’s a drink to toast that trip away or some essentials after they return from their break.
“Our BrewDog bar has been a huge success since opening at the airport five years ago, so seeing it move into a larger unit and expanding its offering was always going to be a popular option.
“This is one of several changes people will see in the coming months, and we’re sure the arrival of Sainsbury’s – one of the UK’s top supermarket chains – will also go down well with our passengers.”
The news comes after Edinburgh Airport revealed its check-in hall would undergo a huge £5.8million revamp, with bosses unveiling plans to introduce new self-service tech.
Airport spending mistakes
Even though shop openings are often welcome news for holidaymakers, it is important to remember that airports are deliberately designed to encourage holidaymakers to spend their cash, especially when passengers have time to kill.
After they’ve passed through security, and before their boarding gate has been announced, holidaymakers become a captive audience where they’re forced to spend.
This free time is referred to as “golden hour” by industry experts who can often make money on passengers last-minute purchases.
The term was coined by airport guru Holly Buckner who encouraged airports to be aware of how to capture the needs of passengers.
In an interview on ABC’s Nightline, she added: “You [airports] can capitalise on someone who is frazzled and lost, and who is trying to make their way to their gate, but still offer something that is going to be enticing for them to purchase.”
As a passenger, it’s important to know exactly when to part with your cash.
Firstly, it’s good to know which items are normally cheaper in duty free, and which will end up costing you more.
Alcohol and cigarettes are usually always cheaper and the main items travellers stock up on when passing through the airport.
However, things like snacks, medicine and electronics are often more expensive.
Another item that needlessly costs passengers at the airport is water, which can cost a fortune from duty free shops.
Take an empty bottle through airport security, then refill the bottle at an airport fountain or ask your flight attendant for a free top-up.
New Ryanair routes from Edinburgh airport
EARLIER this year, Ryanair announced the launch of three new routes from Edinburgh Airport.
In April, the budget airline began operating new flights to Biarritz and Bergerac in France.
The twice-weekly services started on April 2 and April 3, with prices starting from £22 and £26 respectively.
The French flights weren’t the only new ones to be setting off from Edinburgh this year, with Ryanair also adding a new route to Agadir in Morocco.
The Edinburgh to Agadir flights went on sale on April 1 from £65.
There are ways to save money at airports, a travel expert has revealed how airport lounges could offer cash savings.
And this traveller shared a hack to avoid spending money on water.