Edinburgh Airport warns ‘don’t come to try to see the pope fly in’
09.09.10
People have been warned not to travel to Edinburgh Airport to greet the Pope, the Evening News reports. Airport bosses fear crowds hoping to catch a glimpse of the pontiff when he touches down next Thursday could cause chaos for travellers. They said security arrangements surrounding the arrival meant there would be little to see so sightseers would be wasting their journey.
Pope Benedict XVI will be flown into the Turnhouse side of the airport, well away from the main terminal buildings. He will be greeted on the tarmac by the Duke of Edinburgh and a small welcoming party as he steps off his specially-chartered plane at the start of his four-day visit to the UK.
He will then be driven by limousine from the airport to the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a meeting with the Queen. However, the council said there would be no opportunity to see the Pope on his arrival at the airport, his route through the city or on his arrival at the palace.
Organisers are encouraging people to head instead for Princes Street, where the St Ninian's Day parade, featuring pipe bands, school children and a historical pageant, will take place before the Pope is driven the full length of the street and up Lothian Road in a Popemobile to have lunch at Cardinal Keith O'Brien's official residence in Morningside.
A Catholic church spokesman told the newspaper: ‘Our advice is the best place to see him is in the city centre, where there will be a full morning of festivities.’
The airport is assuring passengers that all flights will be operating normally next Thursday, but it is advising travellers to build in extra time to their journeys to allow for road closures around the airport in connection with the Pope's visit.
Several roads in the area will be shut for up to two hours in the morning and diversions will be in place. The spokesman said passengers might need to allow around half an hour for delays in reaching the airport.
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