Scotland's Commercial Airports: How Many And Where?

Scotland has several airports that cater to both international and regional flights. The country's main airports are located in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with additional airports in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, and the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Edinburgh Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Scotland, handling over 12 million passengers annually, while Glasgow Airport, also known as Glasgow International Airport, is the second-busiest airport in the country. These airports offer a range of amenities, including dining, shopping, and lounges, and provide easy connectivity to various destinations within Scotland and worldwide.

Edinburgh Airport

There are four main airports in Scotland operating on a commercial basis, and Edinburgh Airport is the largest and busiest of them all. Located in the Ingliston area of Edinburgh, Scotland, the airport handled over 14.7 million passengers in 2019, making it the sixth-busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the second busiest outside London. The airport has one runway and one passenger terminal and employs about 2,500 people.

International service from Edinburgh Airport began in 1962 with direct service to Dublin. However, for many years, international flights were charter and private only. This changed during the late 1970s, with the addition of direct services to continental Europe, including Amsterdam in 1975. By the mid-1980s, direct routes included major European cities such as Paris, Düsseldorf, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Copenhagen.

Glasgow Airport

The history of the airport dates back to 1932 when the site at Abbotsinch, between the Black Cart Water and the White Cart Water, was opened. In 1933, the Royal Air Force 602 Squadron (City of Glasgow) Auxiliary Air Force moved its Westland Wapiti IIA aircraft to the site. The RAF Station HQ was formed in 1936 when 6 Auxiliary Group, Bomber Command arrived. The site was used by the Royal Navy until their departure in 1963.

In the 1960s, Glasgow Corporation decided that a new airport was needed for the city. The original site of Glasgow's main airport, Renfrew Airport, was located about 3 km east of the current airport. The new airport, designed by Basil Spence, was completed in 1966, with British European Airways beginning services using De Havilland Comet aircraft. The first commercial flight to arrive was a British European Airways flight from Edinburgh, landing on 2 May 1966. The airport was officially opened on 27 June 1966 by Queen Elizabeth II.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport

Scotland has four main airports operating on a commercial basis: Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow International Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and Aberdeen Dyce Airport. There are also several smaller airports managed by Scottish Highlands and Islands.

The airport has 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. It is also the only place in the United Kingdom that Elvis Presley is known to have set foot, when a United States Air Force transport plane carrying him stopped to refuel in 1960.

In the 1980s, Prestwick Airport saw scheduled transatlantic flights by Air Canada and Northwest Airlines. These carriers moved their operations to Glasgow Airport after government restrictions were lifted in 1990. In 1992, the airport was purchased by Canadian entrepreneur Matthew Hudson, who constructed the airport's railway station, making it the first Scottish airport with its own station. In 2001, the airport was purchased by Infratil, a New Zealand company, which refurbished the terminal building and rebranded the airport as "pure dead brilliant".

Campbeltown, Dundee, Islay, Kirkwall, Inverness, Sumburgh, Stornoway, and Benbecula airports

Scotland has several commercial airports, including Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Stornoway, Islay, and Benbecula airports.

Campbeltown Airport, located in Argyll and Bute, has the longest runway of any public airport in Scotland, at 3,049 metres (10,003 feet). The airport operates regular scheduled flights, with airlines such as Loganair serving the airport. Campbeltown Airport is also notable for its role in NATO and its unique status regarding security checks, with departing passengers not subject to the typical security screening processes found at other airports.

Dundee Airport has a rich history, with its runway being upgraded over time and the airport changing hands between different operators. Dundee Airport has served various destinations, including Aberdeen, Carlisle, Manchester, Birmingham, and Belfast City. The airport has been served by airlines such as Air Ecosse, Business Air, British Midland Regional, and ScotAirways.

Inverness Airport is a busy hub, serving around one million passengers annually. It offers flights to various destinations, including London Heathrow, Kirkwall, and Sumburgh. Inverness Airport is served by airlines such as Loganair, EasyJet, KLM, and British Airways. The airport has received accolades for its unique character and dedicated staff.

Kirkwall Airport, located in Orkney, is notable for its commitment to sustainability. The airport has implemented plans to reduce emissions by adopting hydrogen combustion engine systems for heating. Kirkwall Airport is also known for its unique signage, featuring the word "Krimsitir" or "Grimsetter" in runes on the terminal roof.

Sumburgh Airport, serving the Shetland Islands, offers incredible landscapes and a rich Viking heritage. The airport has a new quiet space called the West Voe Quiet Room and a souvenir shop featuring locally sourced gifts.

Stornoway Airport is owned by HIAL, a company controlled by the Scottish Government. It serves as a base for privately owned light aircraft and has been used for cross-wind training of large jets, such as the Airbus A350.

Islay Airport, also part of the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited Group, is located off the West Coast in Argyll and Bute. The airport operates daily flights to and from Glasgow, Colonsay, and Oban. Islay is known for its famous whisky distilleries, and the airport team is dedicated to ensuring a safe, accessible, and welcoming experience for visitors.

Benbecula Airport, located in the Hebrides, provides vital transport connections to the Scottish mainland and other Hebridean islands. It serves the interlinked islands of Benbecula, North Uist, and South Uist, offering scheduled services and supporting emergency air ambulance flights. The airport also holds a place in Scottish Gaelic literature, featuring in a song by the iconic war poet Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna.

Scotland's busiest airports

Scotland has four main airports operating on a commercial basis: Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport, Aberdeen Airport, and Inverness Airport. In 2019, Edinburgh Airport was Scotland's busiest airport, serving 14.7 million passengers that year. It is located 5 nautical miles west of Edinburgh city centre and has one runway and one passenger terminal. Glasgow Airport, Scotland's second busiest airport, served 8.84 million passengers in 2019, a decrease of 8.4% from the previous year. Aberdeen Airport, Scotland's third busiest airport, served 1.05 million passengers in 2021, down from 2.9 million in 2019. Inverness Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Scotland, but the number of passengers it serves is not readily available. Other airports in Scotland include Campbeltown, Dundee, Islay, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Stornoway, and Benbecula, which are managed by Scottish Highlands and Islands.

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