Glasgow Airport (GLA) or Glasgow International Airport, is situated in Paisley, Renfrewshire, about 16 km west of Glasgow city center.
Since opening in the 1960s, the airport has grown significantly, replacing Prestwick Airport (about 55 km southwest of Glasgow) as the city’s primary air gateway. The latter serves mostly low-cost, seasonal, and cargo flights.
Glasgow Airport is Scotland's second-busiest airport, after Edinburgh Airport. In 2024, the airport served over 8 million passengers, ranking it ninth largest in the United Kingdom.
Major Airlines at GLA - Loganair, British Airways, easyJet
The airport is a hub for Loganair, Britain’s largest regional carrier. It offers flights to a dozen Scottish cities.
The nation’s carrier, British Airways, operates multiple daily flights to different airports in London.
Glasgow is also a focus city for low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Jet2.com, and TUI Airways. In the summer months, these airlines add various seasonal destinations to cater to the leisure sector in Scotland. The Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Tenerife South) are among the most popular holiday destinations from Glasgow.
Full-service airlines, such as Emirates and Lufthansa, connect Glasgow with various destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
See all airlines that use Glasgow Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates at Glasgow Airport
Glasgow Airport has only one terminal - Terminal M.
Although technically there exists a Terminal 2, it is connected via a covered walkway to the main building, thus creating one continuous terminal space.
The terminal is equipped with a total of 38 gates split into 3 sections.
Check-in desks and the arrival area are situated on the Ground Floor.
The First Floor houses most of the shopping, including the duty-free stores, as well as most of the gates.
The Second Floor is where you will find the Loch Lomond Bar and the Upper Deck Lounge.
When to arrive at the airport?
Glasgow Airport is efficient and rarely has long queues forming at check-in or Security. Still, it’s better to be early than to be late!
You should arrive:
1.5 hours before your domestic flight.
2 hours before your flight to European destinations.
3 hours before your international flight outside of Europe.
Dining Options at Glasgow Airport
You will find places that sell food both before and after security, though the choice is definitely larger in the airside zone of the airport.
Before security (landside) you can eat at:
Greggs: a famous Scottish chain for pastries and lighter snacks.
Starbucks: coffee, sandwiches, and small desserts.
The Spinning Jenny: Burgers, ales, and craft beers in the Domestic Arrivals area.
After security (airside), some of the dining options include:
Pret A Manger: for all sorts of sandwiches.
Beardmore Restaurant & Bar: typical bar food like pizzas, fish and chips, haggis, and neeps & tatties, and a wide selection of whiskies.
Frankie & Benny’s: Very wide menu of New York-Italian favorites.
Lounges
Glasgow Airport houses 2 premium lounges, both on the second floor of the terminal building, offering views of the runways.
The Lomond Lounge allows you to taste the best of Scotland before you travel, including locally sourced food and premium whiskies and gins. The entrance fee is 45 GBP.
The Upper Deck Lounge is the perfect place to relax before a flight with its comfortable sofas and tables plus complimentary drinks and food. Entry price is 35 GBP and stays are limited to 3 hours.
Transportation to the city
Glasgow Airport is well-connected to Glasgow city center and other parts of Scotland:
Bus: The 500 Glasgow Airport Express service provides a direct link to Glasgow city center via the M8 motorway. It reaches Buchanan Bus Station in about 25 minutes. Take it from Stance 1 at the Terminal. A single ticket costs 10.50 GBP.
Additionally, McGill's Bus Services operates route 757, connecting the airport with Paisley, Erskine, and Clydebank.Rail: Glasgow Airport doesn’t have its own train station, so this option isn’t recommended. The nearest railway station is Paisley Gilmour Street, accessible via a short bus ride or taxi.
Taxi: Pick-ups are available right outside the terminal. No pre-booking is necessary. The official taxis have a recognizable white colour. A trip to the city costs 20-30 GBP.
Rent a car: The world’s biggest car rental companies have kiosks at Glasgow Airport. Find their offices in the arrival area.
For a private transfer, check out your options here.
Parking
Short-term and long-term parking options are available directly opposite the terminal building.
Long-stay Parking: situated about an 8-minute walk from the terminal with a free electric shuttle to and from. It’s free for the first hour, 50 GBP for the first day plus 15 GBP for each additional day.
Short-stay Parking: the multi-story car park is directly opposite the terminal building. The first 20 minutes cost 7 GBP, the first hour 15 GBP and if you leave your car for a day, it will set you back 60 GBP.
Valet Parking is available at Car Park 1. Just hand the attendant the keys and enjoy your flight - they will take care of the rest.
Mid-stay Parking: This new parking is connected to the terminal via a covered walkway (5 minutes on foot). You must pre-book your parking there. The price is 55 GBP per day.
A different option is to book a hotel near the airport that offers parking for an additional fee. This can be less convenient as the hotels don’t normally offer a shuttle to the terminal, but also cheaper.
Hotels near Glasgow Airport
No hotels are present at the terminal building itself but there are a few very near the airport.
The closest option is Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport, directly opposite the terminal building. It’s a no-frills stay with the standard amenities plus the option for a cheaper parking alternative.
Other hotels near Glasgow Airport include Marriott Hotel Glasgow Airport and Premier Inn Glasgow Airport.
Glasgow, United Kingdom
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