Glasgow Airport is the second-busiest in Scotland and serves the west of the country, including a substantial Highland and Hebrides catchment via inter-Scotland connecting flights. It handles around 8 million passengers a year out of a single terminal.

The carrier mix includes British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, KLM, Lufthansa and Loganair (the Highlands and Islands carrier). Routes are predominantly short-haul European and UK domestic, with seasonal long-haul to the US and Caribbean.

The airport's site is reasonably open with several major roads (M8, A8) feeding in from central Glasgow, Paisley and the M77. Parking is generally cheaper than at Edinburgh and a touch quicker to access from the city centre by car.

Getting to GLA

All the practical access info, by car, train, coach and otherwise.

By road

M8 junction 28 directly serves the airport. From Glasgow city centre, allow 20-25 minutes off-peak.

By rail

There's no rail station at the airport. The Glasgow Airport Express (bus 500) connects to Buchanan Bus Station and Glasgow Central via the M8.

By bus / coach

The Glasgow Airport Express (bus 500) runs every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day. Coach services also link the airport with Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond.

Also worth knowing

Plans for a rail link have been discussed for years but no station is currently in service.

The parking landscape

How parking works at Glasgow

Official car parks are Short Stay (multi-storey attached to terminal), Long Stay (a 5-10 minute shuttle) and Valet (drop-off forecourt). All are operated by the airport.

Off-airport operators cluster along the A8 and around Paisley, with several sites near Inchinnan. Independent shuttles typically run every 7-12 minutes and beat the airport's long-stay rates by 25-45%.

Pro tips

Tips travellers wish they'd known

Long-stay shuttle frequency drops after 10pm, confirm before booking if you're on a late return.
The Inchinnan-side off-airport sites are usually the closest to the terminal in shuttle time.
Express bus 500 is far cheaper than a taxi from central Glasgow if you're not driving.
Express Drop-off at the forecourt is a flat £7 for up to 15 minutes (no free period), for a free drop-off use the Long Stay car park (up to 1 hour free) with its shuttle bus.
Glasgow's long-haul options peak in summer, book 6+ months ahead for transatlantic seasonal services.

Frequently asked

GLA questions, answered

The questions our 24/7 team gets asked most about flying from Glasgow.

Is there a train station at Glasgow Airport?+

No, the nearest is Paisley Gilmour Street, with onward bus or taxi to the terminal. Most travellers use the Glasgow Airport Express bus.

How fast is the Glasgow Airport Express?+

Around 15 minutes from Buchanan Bus Station, running every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day.

Is there long-haul from Glasgow?+

Yes seasonally, flights to the US, Iceland, Dubai (via codeshare) and the Caribbean. Year-round long-haul is more limited than at Edinburgh.

Where's the cheapest parking?+

Off-airport park-and-ride along the A8 or near Inchinnan. Book 14+ days ahead for the steepest discount.

Can I be dropped off for free?+

There's no free window at the forecourt, Express Drop-off is £7 for up to 15 minutes. For a free drop-off, use the Long Stay car park (up to 1 hour free) with its free shuttle to the terminal.

How early should I arrive?+

Two hours for short-haul, three for long-haul. Security is rarely a long wait outside summer school holidays.