THE new owner of Edinburgh Airport has promised to introduce tough new targets to speed up boarding times as part of a focus on improving passengers' experience.

The public was promised a "business as usual" approach after Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) took over Scotland's busiest airport yesterday, following an £807 million purchase from BAA, with the first changes due to be seen around September.

Gordon Dewar, a former managing director of the airport who has been appointed its chief executive, said his priority would be in speeding up security checks and improving the arrivals and immigration halls.

However, he stressed the changes would form an "evolution not revolution" and that the airport was "far from broken".

Speaking after his appointment was confirmed, Mr Dewar said: "Edinburgh is my home city and I am excited to be returning to one of the most important jobs in the capital. The challenge of leading the airport and the team into a new era of competition and growth is an irresistible one, and very different to the role I once played in BAA."

He is currently chief executive of Bahrain international airport and will rejoin Edinburgh airport in the summer, with the airport's current managing director Jim O'Sullivan continuing in his role until then.

The change of ownership also saw Sir John Elvidge installed as chairman. He said yesterday represented the opening of a "new, exciting chapter in the history of Scotland's capital city airport".