A THIRD of the workforce at Edinburgh Airport will be made redundant, it has emerged.

Some 250 workers from the 750 employed by the airport will lose their jobs after the impact of the Covid-19 crisis badly hit the aviation industry.

All parts of the business will be affected including frontline staff, management and support workers.

Chief executive Gordon Dewar said it was a "bitterly sad" day for the airport.

He went on: "We have worked with unions and staff over the past four months to protect as many jobs as possible, but unfortunately we have to confirm this regrettable news as the business prepares for whatever comes next."

There will be both compulsory and voluntary redundancies, the airport said.

Those affected will be notified from tomorrow and will officially leave their positions on October 31.

Dewar said the airport expects to see passenger numbers fall by at least two thirds this year. Last year a record 14.7 million people passed through its doors.

The chief executive said the firm must be in "the right size to be in a position to survive and recover when it can".

Despite help from the UK Government furlough scheme, Dewar said the airport had been “burning through” about £3.5m every month.

Unions had warned of job losses among staff at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports as a result of the pandemic.