Airports In Scotland: A Comprehensive Guide To Locations

where are the airports in scotland

Scotland has several international airports, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick, and Inverness. Glasgow Airport, also known as Glasgow International Airport, is one of two airports in Glasgow and is located in the town of Paisley, west of Glasgow city centre. It is the second-best airport in Scotland and the eighth busiest in the UK, serving more than 6 million passengers annually. Edinburgh Airport, located in the Ingliston area, about 7 miles from the city centre, is ranked as the best airport in Scotland and the sixth busiest in the UK. It serves approximately 222 routes and 337 airlines to 153 destinations. Aberdeen Airport, situated in the Aberdeen suburb of Dyce, is a relatively small airport best suited for those visiting Aberdeen or destinations in the northeast of Scotland, such as Cairngorms National Park. Inverness Airport offers seasonal flights to Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to these airports, Sumburgh Airport in Shetland provides seasonal flights to Bergen, Norway.

Airports in Scotland and their characteristics:

Characteristics Values
Number of Main Airports 6
Names of Airports Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow International Airport, Aberdeen Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Inverness Airport, Sumburgh Airport
Best Scotland International Airport Edinburgh Airport
Second Best Scotland International Airport Glasgow International Airport
Location of Edinburgh Airport Ingliston area, 7 miles from the center of Edinburgh
Number of Destinations Edinburgh Airport serves 153
Number of Airlines Edinburgh Airport serves 337
Number of Routes Edinburgh Airport serves 222
Location of Glasgow International Airport 8 miles from the center of Glasgow
Number of Passengers Glasgow International Airport serves 6 million+
Number of Airlines Glasgow International Airport serves 30
Number of Piers Glasgow International Airport has 3
Location of Aberdeen Airport Aberdeen suburb of Dyce, 7 miles from the city center
Best Use of Aberdeen Airport Visiting Aberdeen or destinations in the northeast of Scotland
Location of Inverness Airport Scotland
Location of Sumburgh Airport Shetland

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Edinburgh Airport

The airport first opened in 1916 as a small base, housing the 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron from 1925. During the Second World War, the RAF Fighter Command took control of the airfield, paving a runway to handle the Supermarine Spitfire. After the war, the airfield remained under military control until it opened for commercial traffic in 1947. The first commercial flight was a British European Airways service from London (Northolt) to Shetland, with Edinburgh and Aberdeen as intermediate stops.

In the 1970s, Edinburgh Airport began offering direct services to continental Europe, with Amsterdam being the first destination in 1975. By the mid-1980s, direct routes had expanded to include Paris, Düsseldorf, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Copenhagen. During this time, the airport handled over 1.8 million passengers annually, a significant increase from the 681,000 passengers it served in 1971.

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Glasgow Airport

The history of Glasgow 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 to the site, and in 1936, the RAF Station HQ was formed. During World War II, a torpedo training unit was formed at the airport, training both RAF and Royal Navy crews. After the war, in 1963, the Royal Navy left, and the airport began to transition to a commercial airport.

In the 1960s, Glasgow Corporation decided that a new airport was needed, and the current site was chosen. The new airport was designed by Basil Spence and built at a cost of £4.2 million. It was completed and officially opened in 1966 by Queen Elizabeth II. The airport has since undergone redevelopment, including the addition of a sky hub in 2007, which connected the main terminal to a second terminal and created space for duty-free shopping.

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Aberdeen Airport

Aberdeen International Airport (IATA: ABZ, ICAO: EGPD) is located in Dyce, approximately 5.8 miles (9.3 km) from Aberdeen city centre. The airport is owned and operated by AGS Airports, which also owns and operates Glasgow and Southampton airports. Aberdeen Airport is a base for Eastern Airways and Loganair. The airport also serves as the main heliport for the offshore North Sea oil and gas industry, handling around 500,000 passengers per year by helicopter.

The airport first opened in 1934 as Dyce Aerodrome, established by Eric Gandar Dower for his enterprises, including the Aberdeen Flying School, Aberdeen Flying Club, and his airline, Aberdeen Airways. During World War II, it became a Royal Air Force station known as RAF Dyce and played a role in the Battle of Britain and photographic reconnaissance.

As of 2023, Aberdeen International Airport has seen around 1.9 million passengers. The airport has a main passenger terminal, serving all scheduled and charter holiday flights, and four additional terminals dedicated to North Sea helicopter operations. The main terminal has 19 stands, with remote parking available on other aprons around the airfield. The airport has one fixed-wing aircraft runway and three additional runways for helicopter use only.

The airport is well-connected, offering daily flights to major airports in the UK and Europe, including London Heathrow and Amsterdam. It provides easy access to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, known for their picturesque towns and villages, and premium local produce, including world-class Aberdeen-Angus beef and fresh seafood.

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Inverness Airport

Today, Inverness Airport offers a range of scheduled services throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. Airlines such as Loganair, EasyJet, KLM, and British Airways operate from the airport, providing point-to-point service to various destinations. The airport has been recognised for its excellence, winning awards such as "Best Airport under 2 Million Passengers in Europe" and "Airport with the Most Dedicated Staff in Europe" at the 2024 ASQ Awards.

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Airports in the Scottish Highlands

Scotland has a number of airports in its cities, as well as smaller airports in the highlands. Inverness Airport, for example, is an international airport in Scotland that offers seasonal flights to Geneva, Switzerland. There are also airports in the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland that are managed by Transport Scotland. Unfortunately, I could not find the names of these airports.

Edinburgh Airport, located in Ingliston, is ranked as the best airport in Scotland and the sixth busiest airport in the UK. It is about 7 miles from the center of the city and serves approximately 222 routes with 337 airlines to 153 destinations. Glasgow International Airport, on the other hand, is ranked as the second-best airport in Scotland and the eighth busiest in the UK. It is located about 8 miles from the center of Glasgow and handles more than 6 million passengers per year.

In addition to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland's other international airports include Aberdeen, Glasgow Prestwick, and Inverness. These airports are served by flights from a growing number of European and long-haul destinations, with excellent year-round air links to most European and Scandinavian countries.

For those travelling to Scotland via a connecting airport in Europe, the major European hubs include London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt am Maine, Amsterdam Schipol, and Madrid Barajas airports.

Frequently asked questions

Edinburgh Airport is ranked as the best airport in Scotland, and it is also the busiest airport in the country. It is located in the Ingliston area, about 7 miles from the centre of the city.

Glasgow International Airport, located 8 miles from Glasgow city centre, is ranked as the second-best airport in Scotland.

Scotland has five international airports: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick, and Inverness.

Travellers can take a bus, taxi, tram, or Uber to get to the city centre from Edinburgh Airport.

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