Gallery art in the frame to be airport's latest arrival

ARTWORKS could be borrowed from the city's galleries as part of a £500,000 revamp of Edinburgh Airport's international arrivals area.

Airport bosses are in talks with the National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery about the possibility of borrowing works in a bid to show off the Capital to international passengers.

The overhaul, which is expected to be completed in March, is part of a multi- million pound upgrade to the terminal building over the past couple of years.

The work will see more space created by removing the airport's old staff search area and the prayer room.

Kevin Brown, Edinburgh Airport's managing director, said: "I've been keen to open this area up and create a real welcome for the Capital's international visitors.

"We're investing in this area as we understand the responsibility we have as one of the main gateways to Edinburgh and, indeed, Scotland.

"This project will deliver a welcome zone that befits an airport of Edinburgh's standing and that will provide passengers with a far better experience."

While the airport would not confirm plans to borrow artworks, the Evening News understands this to be the basis of ongoing discussions.

Mr Brown added: "This new arrival area will give passengers a real sense of place and we hope to work with National Museums Scotland and other cultural organisations, such as the National Portrait Gallery, to create a welcome that gives a real taste of the heritage and culture of the Capital and beyond."

Meanwhile, the city council dismissed the suggestion that the airport's handling of the winter weather would be at the centre of a probe.

The council said the closure of the airport during heavy snowfalls would form just one part of a wider investigation into how the Capital had coped with plunging temperatures.

The airport has regularly had to hire extra snowploughs and other specialist equipment, despite spending more than 1 million on new equipment after last January's cold snap.

Airport operator BAA said Edinburgh has had to cope with much greater volumes of snow on its runway than any other airport and that it has to put safety first.

Last month's heavy snowfall meant that BAA handled almost 11 per cent fewer passengers at its six UK airports than in December 2009. Edinburgh was down 18.4 per cent.

The company said the cost of the weather disruption was approximately 24m.

A total of 7.2m passengers passed through the six airports in December 2010, a 10.9 per cent drop on December 2009.