A record-breaking 75,000 passengers are expected to fly into Edinburgh Airport ahead of the capital’s world-famous Hogmanay celebrations.
The airport said it was expecting its busiest ever new year as revellers flock to the city from around 70 countries.
The figure trumps last year when 70,966 passengers flew into Edinburgh between Christmas Day and December 31. The 2013 figure was 66,708.
Chief executive of Edinburgh Airport Gordon Dewar said: “Last year’s arriving passenger figures in the run-up to New Year smashed all records of Scottish Airports, so to go one better this year is a great achievement.
“People want to visit us – and at this time of year they want to party with us.”
The celebrations start with the torchlight procession on December 30, when 10,000 torchbearers will travel from George IV Bridge to Calton Hill for the fireworks finale.
Biffy Clyro will headline this year’s Concert in the Gardens on Hogmanay, with performances planned by Maximo Park, Slaves and Idlewild among others.
Tickets are sold out for for the Concert in the Garden and for the Loony Dook at South Queensferry on New Year’s Day.
This year for the first time, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will link up with the Mayor of London’s New Year celebrations to support Unicef’s New Year’s Resolution for Children.
Edinburgh Castle, the Camera Obscura, Jenners department store and the statue of Queen Victoria on the roof of the Royal Scottish Academy will be illuminated blue along with the Shard, the London Eye, the National Theatre and the Golden Jubilee Walkways in London. Both cities will hold a minute of blue fireworks.
The children’s charity will receive a 5% donation from every torch sold for the torchlight procession and partygoers at the Street Party, Concert in the Gardens and Old Town Ceilidh will be encouraged to support Unicef via a special screen message.
All donations by revellers in Edinburgh and London will be matched by the UK Government.
Pete Irvine, director of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said: “While Hogmanay is a time for celebration it’s also a chance to look forward and a moment to reflect on the lives of others less fortunate.
“Unicef needs to raise vital funds for children caught in the war in Syria, and we encourage revellers across all the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and London events to put their money where their mouth is and support the Unicef New Year’s Resolution for Children.”
Edinburgh City Council made the decision this year to close a popular viewing spot for the Hogmanay fireworks.
Thousands of people traditionally gather on Calton Hill but councillors said the area will be shut to revellers, citing safety reasons.