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Mitie has landed a new five-year grounds maintenance contract at Scotland’s busiest airport, which sees over 14 million passengers jetting off to 152 destinations each year.
The new deal will see Mitie deliver essential landscaping services across Edinburgh Airport’s airfield and terminal buildings. Services will include grass cutting, tree and shrub maintenance, litter picking, and weed control across the airport estate, from the terminal front to the airfield. The team will also be responsible for mowing and maintaining around 2 million square metres of grass across the site – the equivalent of 280 football pitches.
In addition, Mitie will deliver winter maintenance services at the airport, which will include gritting car parks, walkways, and roads across the airport, as well as supporting the maintenance of taxi way systems when required. As an airport that battles with harsh weather during winters, keeping the grounds safe and accessible for passengers and colleagues is an essential job that Mitie will be responsible for.
Sustainability will be a key focus of the contract. For example, the team will use white marine salt for gritting, which is made from evaporated seawater, making it highly sustainable. This salt also does not leave behind the messy residue associated with traditional brown gritting salt, which is mined and leaves sediment on the roads. As well as this, Mitie will strive to eliminate the use of plastic and is also working on a number of initiatives to introduce more sustainable planting and wildflower areas at passenger entrances to improve biodiversity at the airport.
Tim Howell, Managing Director, Mitie Landscapes, said: “We are thrilled to work with Edinburgh Airport to deliver grounds maintenance services on-site for the next five years. Our experienced team is committed to maintaining the airport’s vast grounds using the most sustainable methods possible, ensuring they remain safe, functional, and visually appealing all year-round.”
Brian Anderson, Head of Engineering, Edinburgh Airport, said: “Effective grounds and winter maintenance is hugely important to the airport and our daily operations, and we are pleased Mitie will be working with us on this across the next five years.
“Their experience and expertise in this area, along with their plans for future improvements, will help ensure the best service for passengers and staff across the campus.”
The contract builds on the support Mitie delivers across the UK’s aviation sector. This includes delivering a range of services from cleaning, engineering and waste management to baggage security at some of the busiest airports up and down the UK, such as Heathrow, London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester and Belfast City.
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