Glasgow's Dual Airport System: How It Works

Glasgow has two airports: Glasgow Airport (GLA) and Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK). Glasgow Airport is the main international hub in the city and is located 9.9 miles from the city centre. Glasgow Prestwick Airport is the secondary airport serving Glasgow and is located 32 miles from the city centre. Both airports handle domestic and international flights.

Glasgow Airport (GLA)

Glasgow Airport, also known as Glasgow International Airport (IATA: GLA, ICAO: EGPF), is located in Paisley, Renfrewshire, 8.6 nautical miles (15.9 km; 9.9 mi) west of Glasgow city centre. It is the second-busiest airport in Scotland and the ninth-busiest in the United Kingdom, handling 8.84 million passengers in 2019. The airport is owned and operated by AGS Airports, which also owns and operates Aberdeen and Southampton airports. Glasgow Airport was opened in 1966, with flights originally only operating to other places in the United Kingdom and Europe. Today, the airport serves a variety of destinations throughout Canada, Europe, and the Middle East, handling over 9 million passengers per year and serving over 120 destinations worldwide.

The airport consists of one terminal building, split into three piers, a smaller second terminal building, and a single runway, 2,665 metres in length. The three piers include the West Pier (commonly known as the International Pier), the Central Pier, and the East Pier. The West Pier is the principal international and long-haul departure point, equipped with airbridges. The Central Pier is part of the original 1966 building and is mainly used by British Airways. The East Pier, constructed in the mid-1970s, was originally used for international flights but has been redeveloped for use by low-cost airlines such as easyJet and Loganair.

Glasgow Airport is easily accessible by road, with direct access to the adjoining M8 motorway. It is also served by a frequent bus service, the Glasgow Airport Express, which offers direct connections to the city centre. Additionally, the closest railway station to the airport is Paisley Gilmour Street station, which is just a short bus or taxi ride away.

The airport has a rich history, dating back to 1932 when the site at Abbotsinch, between the Black Cart Water and the White Cart Water, was opened. It was previously known as Abbotsinch Airport and served as an airbase for the Royal Air Force during World War II. The airport has undergone various redevelopment and expansion projects over the years, including the addition of a dedicated international departure lounge and pier, and the creation of a single, purpose-built security screening area.

Glasgow Airport is home to the Scottish regional airline Loganair, which has its headquarters and a maintenance hangar at the airport. Other airlines that use Glasgow Airport as a hub include easyJet, Jet2.com, and TUI Airways. The airport also accommodates low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and freight operators.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK)

The airport has a range of passenger facilities, including bars, restaurants, shops, a bureau de change, and a children's TV area. Several car rental companies, including National, Avis, Europcar, and Hertz, have desks in the concourse. The airport taxi rank is located in front of the terminal, and there is a free phone for assistance next to the information desk in the arrivals hall.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has a long history associated with transatlantic flight. It was part of the Atlantic Bridge route between Europe and North America and continues to be an important refuelling stop for the United States Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force. The airport is also known for its use in the CIA's extraordinary rendition flights and as the only place in the United Kingdom where Elvis Presley set foot.

In recent years, Glasgow Prestwick Airport has seen a decline in passenger traffic, with around 670,000 passengers in 2016. However, it remains an important transport hub for the region, with several airlines offering flights to various destinations.

Transport options

Glasgow has two airports: Glasgow Airport (GLA) and Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK). Both airports handle domestic and international flights, but Glasgow Airport is the main international hub in the city and is closer to the city centre.

Glasgow Airport

Glasgow Airport is located in Paisley, Renfrewshire, 8.6 nautical miles (15.9 km; 9.9 mi) west of Glasgow city centre. It is easily accessible by road, with direct access to the adjoining M8 motorway. It is also served by a frequent bus service, the Glasgow Airport Express, which operates services to the city centre. The service is run by First Glasgow and all buses feature leather seats, USB charging ports and free WiFi. The closest railway station to the airport is Paisley Gilmour Street station, which is a short walk or bus ride away.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is located 32 miles (51 kilometres) southwest of Glasgow. It is the only airport in Scotland with its own railway station, Prestwick International Airport railway station, which is connected to the terminal by an enclosed walkway. The station is on the existing Ayrshire Coast Line (Glasgow–Ayr), which runs past the airfield. ScotRail operates a direct rail link from the airport to the city centre, with four trains an hour from Glasgow to PIK from Monday to Friday, and two trains an hour on Sundays. The journey takes around 45 minutes. Passengers travelling to and from the airport receive a 50% discount on normal fares by presenting their flight confirmation to the conductor onboard the train.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is also served by bus services operated by Stagecoach West Scotland. The X99 service bus runs directly to and from the airport's main terminal building. Tickets cost £12 per single journey.

History

Glasgow has two airports: Glasgow Airport (GLA) and Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK). Glasgow Airport is the main international hub in the city and is located closer to the city centre. Glasgow Prestwick Airport is an international airport secondary to GLA and is farther from the city centre.

The history of Glasgow Airport, formerly Abbotsinch Airport, goes back to 1932 when the site at Abbotsinch, between the Black Cart Water and the White Cart Water, near Paisley in Renfrewshire, was opened. In 1933, the Royal Air Force 602 Squadron (City of Glasgow) Auxiliary Air Force moved its Westland Wapiti IIA aircraft from nearby Renfrew to Abbotsinch. The RAF Station HQ, however, was not formed until 1 July 1936 when 6 Auxiliary Group, Bomber Command, arrived. From May 1939 until October 1939, the Squadron flew the Supermarine Spitfire. During World War II, the RAF controlled transatlantic flights from Prestwick.

In 1940, a torpedo training unit was formed, which trained both RAF and Royal Navy crews under RAF Coastal Command. The Admiralty was granted a lodger facility for a Royal Navy Air Section at Royal Air Force Abbotsinch from 19 June 1940. The airbase was transferred from No. 19 Group RAF to the Admiralty on 11 August 1943 and was known as Royal Naval Air Station Abbotsinch, or RNAS Abbotsinch. During the 1950s, the airfield housed a large aircraft storage unit and squadrons of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The Royal Navy left in October 1963.

In the 1960s, Glasgow Corporation decided that a new airport was required. The original site of Glasgow's main airport, Renfrew Airport, was located 3 km east of the current airport. The new airport, designed by Basil Spence, was completed in 1966 at a cost of £4.2 million. The airport was officially opened on 27 June 1966 by Queen Elizabeth II. Glasgow Airport began to offer flights to other places around the world, flights which previously used Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which was subsequently relegated as the city's secondary airport.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport, on the other hand, has had a long historical connection with transatlantic flight, being part of the Atlantic Bridge route between Europe and North America. It remains an important airport for the United States Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force, who use it as a refuelling stop. The airport is also the only place in the United Kingdom where Elvis Presley, who had distant Scottish ancestry, was known to have set foot. In 1992, the struggling airport was purchased by Canadian entrepreneur Matthew Hudson, who initiated the construction of the airport's railway station, making it the first Scottish airport with its own railway station. In 1994, Irish budget airline Ryanair opened a route to the airport from Dublin, followed by a second route in 1995 to London Stansted.

Hotels and accommodation

Glasgow is served by two airports: Glasgow Airport (formerly Abbotsinch Airport) and Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

There are several hotels within walking distance of Glasgow Airport, including:

• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Express
• Courtyard by Marriott Glasgow Airport
• Travelodge Glasgow Airport Central
• Premier Inn Glasgow Airport

There are also a number of hotels a short drive or bus ride away, such as:

• Normandy Hotel Glasgow Airport
• Glynhill Leisure Hotel & Conference Venue
• Radisson Hotel Glasgow City Centre
• Jurys Inn Glasgow City Centre
• The Golden Jubilee Hotel
• Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort
• Leonardo Inn Glasgow West End
• The Titan
• My Motel Glasgow Airport
• West Park Hotel
• Mill and Brae
• Douglas Hotel

For those on a budget, the following options are available:

• My Motel Glasgow Airport
• West Park Hotel
• Mill and Brae
• Leonardo Inn Glasgow West End
• The Titan

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is located in Prestwick, near Glasgow, and is around 35 miles from Glasgow city centre. There are no hotels within walking distance of the airport, but there are several in the town of Prestwick, such as:

• Parkstone
• Muirhouse Lodge
• Carlton Hotel
• Prestwick Old Course Hotel
• Golf View
• Firhill

Frequently asked questions