Glasgow Intl Airport (GLA) Flights & Flight Status

Glasgow Airport is an international hub in Scotland that welcomed over seven million passengers in 2023. The airport has two terminals, with a majority of its operation happening out of its main terminal, Terminal 1. Around 20 airlines fly directly from Glasgow to over 100 global destinations, making it a brilliant springboard for further travel adventures.

Glasgow, a port city in central western Scotland, is rich in national culture and is home to the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the National Theatre of Scotland. There’s also a thriving art and music scene, diverse architectural styles to marvel at and whisky distilleries aplenty – and much, much more.

Travelling between Glasgow Airport and the city

Glasgow Airport is about 10 miles from the city centre and it’s simple to grab a taxi or hop on a bus for the journey. There’s a taxi rank outside the airport’s arrivals, or for my fellow budget-conscious travellers, the bus is quick and direct – you’ll be in the city centre in just 15 minutes.

The Glasgow Airport Express service 500 connects the airport to the city. From the airport, you can get this bus from stance 1 – it’s really easy to find as you exit arrivals. For the return journey back to the airport, the service starts at Buchanan Bus Station from stance 46.

The bus service has luxury seating, USB charging ports, free Wi-Fi and lots of luggage storage, so it’s a much more comfortable journey than you would experience on a standard bus. Buses on the route run roughly every 15 minutes, and there’s no need to pre-book a ticket – most just pay on the day. If you’d prefer to book ahead, you can do so from the Glasgow Airport website.

Public transport routes to the rest of Scotland and the UK

Scotland’s cities are fantastic, but journey a little further out and you’ll be bowled over by the scenery. Glasgow Airport is a fantastic gateway for further flung adventures, and many routes can be taken directly from the airport. Jump on the 915 CityLink bus for trips to Loch Lomond and Fort William, with the latter destination taking around three hours.

Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, is just 50 minutes on a train from central Glasgow too. If you’re headed to Inverness, jump on a direct train from Glasgow Queen Street and you’ll be there in around three and a half hours. Glasgow is also well-connected to the rest of the UK via its extensive train and bus network. A high-speed train from central Glasgow to London takes less than five hours, or head to the closer cultural hub of Manchester (a personal favourite) in about three and a half hours.

But be warned – trains in the UK aren’t as wallet-friendly as in most continental European countries. Booking early and for journey times outside of peak commuting hours can help lower costs. From Monday to Friday, peak times are between 4.30am and 9.30am, and then 4pm to 7pm for the evening rush hour. There is no peak time travel on weekends.

Travelling internationally from Glasgow Airport

Glasgow Airport flies to over 100 global destinations – just a handful of these are Barbados, Toronto, Dubai and Orlando, as well as a huge roster of European hotspots. Being an island means the UK doesn’t have the overland connectivity of continental Europe but if you’re keen to avoid flights, you can travel by ferry between Cairnryan (around two and a half hours by train from Glasgow) and Belfast in Northern Ireland in around two hours.

Travel further south to Liverpool for more ferry connections to Ireland and, if you’re particularly keen to dodge airports, you can jump on a train down to London St Pancras and connect to the Eurostar, a train service that connects London with Paris in around two and a half hours.

Hiring a car at Glasgow Airport

As I’ve mentioned, there is so much beauty to be seen in Scotland outside of its cities. The Scottish Highlands is a mountainous region in the north west of the country and is a hiker’s dream – it’s also home to Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. Even if venturing up mountains isn’t your thing, it’s hard not to appreciate the rolling hills, magical lochs and the tiny towns scattered amongst it all.

While the region can be explored via public transport, it’s much easier and more efficient to do so with a car. Car rental is available directly from Glasgow Airport, with the hub offering hire services from nine companies including Enterprise, Budget, Avis and Europcar. There are many car rental companies situated just outside the main terminal closest to the domestic arrivals section, and beside Terminal 2 too.

Airport hotels

Whether you arrive late, need to leave early or just need a rest before taking your onward journey into Scotland, there are a handful of hotels around Glasgow Airport to pick from. My choice after a late flight into the city was the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport, which offers modern rooms with comfortable beds and an on-site restaurant called Traders where kids eat free. There’s also room service, which I very much appreciated after my late arrival.

Priority security and night-before bag drop

My experiences at Glasgow Airport have shown it can get really busy, so I’ve made use of its priority security service that costs barely more than a couple of cups of coffee. It’s a little different to other airports in that there is no separate screening area from non-priority travellers, but you skip the queue and that’s the main thing. Children under three can go through priority security free of charge.

Passengers travelling with easyJet, TUI and Jet2 on flights departing before midday can drop their bags off at the airport the evening before. This makes the morning a little easier if you have checked luggage and can be especially helpful for those travelling with young children. Passengers get 50% off priority security when using this service and one-hour of free parking to drop their bags, too.

Lounges at Glasgow Airport

There are lounges exclusive for British Airways and Emirates passengers for a fee or certain members, and there are two other lounges at Glasgow too – the UpperDeck Lounge and the Lomond Lounge. The former comes with a few strings as to who can use it too, but the Lomond Lounge is accessible for any passengers for a fee.

The standout thing for me at this lounge was the food. I’m not one to eat lots before a flight, but I made an exception here for the charcuterie board – yes, really. The lounge is huge, with plenty of comfortable seating, places to work, a self-service tea and coffee station and a great view of the runway too. Under 18s aren’t allowed in the Lomond Lounge, so it’s not one for families.

Food and shopping

Glasgow Airport’s food offerings centre around grab-and-go options like Tortilla, Burger King and Pret A Manger, but there are restaurants like The Spinning Jenny, which offers pub-style food, and Bird & Signet, which is a similar offering with a bar (try the Biscoff cheesecake here and thank me later).

Aside from World Duty Free, the shopping options are few but with something for every need, from Jo Malone to JD Sports. There’s also an opportunity to pick up a last Glasgow keepsake from souvenir store Discover Glasgow (as always, a friendly reminder to get yourself a fridge magnet – the uglier the better). For the football fans in your life, head to the respective Celtic and Rangers stores to pick up some memorabilia on home soil.

My experience of Glasgow Airport and the city

Glasgow Airport isn’t huge but is thoughtfully formed, easy to navigate and has just what you need to set you up for your onward journey. It does get very busy – particularly early in the mornings on Fridays and weekends – so I would highly recommend purchasing the priority security to bypass those lengthy screening queues.

As for the city of Glasgow, it’s a perfect weekend getaway. My favourite thing to do is the city centre mural trail, which is a series of huge artworks on the sides of buildings. Take it at your own pace using the online guide or sign up for a walking tour to get all the background stories. My favourite mural is ‘the world’s most economical taxi’, which depicts a taxi being kept afloat by balloons – you can find it on Mitchell Street.