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Airports in Scotland
Aberdeen Airport (ABZ)
Overview
The primary airport for Aberdeen and one of the busiest airports in Scotland, Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) was built in 1931 and has served as both an RAF base and a public aerodrome. The two-level main terminal, built in 1977, processes roughly 2.7 million passengers each year.
The layout of Aberdeen Airport is relatively simple, with check-in located on the ground floor with the arrivals area and baggage claim to the right, and the departure lounges on the upper level.
Located 5.8 miles (9.3km) northwest of Aberdeen's city centre, Aberdeen Airport has a busy helipad, hosting more helicopter traffic than any other airport worldwide. Flights to Aberdeen Airport are available on roughly 20 airlines to more than 30 destinations, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Paris and Ibiza, as well as many cities in the UK.
Location
The airport is situated seven miles (11km) northwest of Aberdeen.
Getting to the city
Aberdeen and Inverness train services run from the local station at Dyce, which is just a short taxi ride from the airport. The main line station is in Aberdeen city centre where there are frequent services to all parts of Scotland and England. Regular bus services operate from the airport to Aberdeen city centre for appriximately £1.50-1.70, and takes roughly 30 minutes. Services are less frequent at weekends than on weekdays.
Time
GMT (GMT +1 between last Sunday in March and Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Contacts
Tel: +44 (0)870 040 0006.
Edinburgh International Airport (EDI)
Overview
The biggest airport in Scotland, Edinburgh International Airport is located just six miles (9.3km) west of central Edinburgh. The airport is a small facility, despite being among the busiest in the UK, and serves nearly nine million passengers each year.
Edinburgh International Airport is a convenient gateway to the rolling hills of Scotland, and is busiest in late summer when the city doubles in population for the massive Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Flights to Edinburgh International Airport are available from everywhere in the UK, as well as busy routes to Amsterdam, Paris, New York, Frankfurt and Geneva.
The airport itself is housed under one roof, and is fairly easy to navigate. A few gift shops and a variety of restaurants make up the bulk of the entertainment options in the terminal, however there are massage chairs to help with tired limbs after long flights.
Location
The airport is eight miles (13km) west of Edinburgh.
Getting to the city
Airlink 100 buses connect between the airport and the city centre every 10 minutes, from early morning until after midnight, and cost £3.50 (calling at the Waverley and Haymarket train stations); the journey takes approximately 25 minutes. There are many alternative buses including Night bus N22, Service 35 and Airdirect 747, that run to the city centre via a couple of stops en route. Stops for public buses are situated at stand 18 on the terminal forecourt road outside the UK Arrivals Hall. The designated taxi rank is also outside the UK Arrivals Hall beside the coach park. Car rental companies are also available.
Time
GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Contacts
Tel: +44 0)844 481 8989.
Glasgow Airport (GLA)
Overview
The second-busiest airport in Scotland (after Edinburgh), Glasgow International Airport is located eight miles (13km) west of central Glasgow, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew in Renfrewshire. More than 6.5 million passengers pass through the airport each year on flights to a number of cities around the world, including Toronto, Copenhagen, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Dubai, Ibiza, New York, Philadelphia, Cancun and Orlando.
The terminal has three piers: East (for low-cost flights and flights to Ireland and the Scottish Islands, Central (for domestic flights), and West (for international flights). In 2007, the airport opened the Skyhub, which acts as a connection between to Terminal 2 and contains a large duty-free shopping centre.
The airport has a few entertainments and amenities despite its small size, including the GameGrid (a gaming arcade) and a number of duty-free shops and restaurants.
Location
The airport is located eight miles (13km) west of Glasgow, off junction 28 of the M8 motorway.
Getting to the city
Buses leave regularly for Glasgow, stopping off at the main railway and bus stations. The journey to the city centre takes 15 to 20 minutes. There are also eight trains per hour from Paisley Gilmour Street Station to Glasgow Central Station, which is one mile from the airport and can be reached by taxi or by regular bus services from bus stop bay 1, just outside the terminal building. Taxis are available outside the terminal 24 hours a day, with only those licensed by the Renfrewshire Council allowed to operate. The taxi fare from Glasgow Airport to Glasgow city centre is approximately £20-22.
Time
GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Contacts
Tel: +44 (0)870 040 0008.
Stornoway Airport (SYY)
Location
2.3 miles (3.7 km) east of Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis
Getting to the city
The airport bus service leaves for Stornoway town at regular intervals throughout the day, from Monday to Saturday.
Time
GMT (GMT +1 between last Sunday in March and last Sunday in October).
Contacts
Tel: +44 (0)1851 702256.
Inverness Airport (INV)
Overview
Situated just over eight miles (13km) from downtown Inverness in Dalcross, Inverness Airport is the main gateway for flights to northern Scotland, serving nearly 600,000 passengers each year on routes throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, and a few charter flights to destinations in Europe that include Amsterdam, Zurich, Frankfurt and Bergen.
The small facility is simple and easy to navigate, and convenient public transportation options from the airport to Inverness City ensure a hassle-free start to any holiday in Scotland, including the mysterious Loch Ness and beautiful countryside of the Scottish Highlands.
Location
The airport is in Dalcross, eight miles (13km) from downtown Inverness.
Time
GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Aberdeen Airport Taxis: the taxi fares above are intended as a guideline only.
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