The fact that Glasgow International airport (GLA) used to be primarily domestic in its first years might surprise many travellers today, knowing the wide array of connections to European cities and destinations overseas which are currently operated from its terminal on Scottish ground, a hub for the regional airline Loganair and supporting operational base for British Airways, Easyjet, Jet2, Ryanair and TuiFly.
Location and transportation
Glasgow airport is located 16 kilometres from the city centre approximately, and arriving passengers may reach it either by travelling with the direct bus line 500, linking the terminal and the downtown 24 hours a day, or by taking the line 757 towards the main railway stations in the central area.
Glasgow International airport terminals
The airport has just one terminal building divided into three piers: the East pier, the Central pier and the West pier. The check-in and boarding operations of low-cost airlines are concentrated on the East pier, which accommodates gates from 1 to 12; the Central pier is home not only to the British Airways business lounges for frequent flyers but also to the most important connections with London via Heathrow, Gatwick and LCY, and boarding gates from 14 to 26 are found here; finally, gates from 27 to 36, serving different airlines, are situated in the West pier.
Hotels near Glasgow airport
If you visit Scotland for business purposes, it may be suitable to find accommodation close to the airport. You are equally advised to check whether your hotel in Glasgow offers complimentary transfers from and to the passenger terminal for a stress-free trip. There are even some hotels located within short walking distance from GLA, as is the case with the Holiday Inn Express Glasgow airport.
Flights to Glasgow in Scotland
Apart from the aforementioned connections with the UK, many carriers sell flights to Glasgow from a variety of destinations in America and Europe. The listed below are some of the most popular regular and seasonal routes:
Dublin (Aer Lingus), Toronto Pearson (Air Canada), Philadelphia (American Airlines), Bucharest (Blue Air), New York JFK (Delta), Dubai (Emirates), Düsseldorf (Eurowings), Reykjavik and Keflavik (Icelandair), Amserdam (KLM), Frankfurt and Munich (Lufthansa) and Budapest and Katowice (Wizz Air). Likewise, airline companies such as Ryanair, Tui, Thomas Cook and Jet2.com operates both scheduled and seasonal flights from Glasgow to Greece, the Caribbean, Las Vegas (Nevada), the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands and other holiday destinations in Spain, so you may want to visit their websites and see the routes available on specific dates.
*UPDATE: Loganair has partnered with Emirates and is now offering connections via Glasgow airport, Edinburgh, Manchester and London Stansted.
Passenger services in Glasgow airport
Whether you have hours to spend at the airport or you are just passing through, there is a variety of services you may need while at the Glasgow air passenger terminal. First of all, in order to have your internet connection needs covered, know that you will enjoy 1 hour of free WiFi in Glasgow airport, and several USB charging stations and power outlets are conveniently located in both the public and the restricted zones.
Should you need extra money for your trip or local currency to use at your next destination, ATMs in Glasgow airport dispense British pounds, euros and US dollars. If you prefer to have your cash exchanged into foreign currency at a good rate, head to a Travelex store; you can do so before or after clearing security.
It does not matter if you do not have much time to spare before boarding, at “Aerospa” in GLA airport, you can get your nails done (manicure and pedicure), a massage, a lash treatment and other beauty care services in just 15 minutes. Find it in the passenger-only restricted area after security. They have outlets in other UK airports such as Edinburgh, Newcastle and Liverpool.
Business travellers can benefit from some features that may help increase productivity during their stay or enhance their work trip: parking on site, fast lane to security, meeting rooms, conference spaces and catering. They must be booked in advance, which can be done through the airport’s official website.
Shops and restaurants in Glasgow airport
In the mood for some last-minute shopping or a pre-flight meal? While at the public departures area (check-in, before security), you may do some souvenir purchases at Scotland & Sea, get a magazine to read during the flight at WHSmiths or buy a new cabin-size bag at Luggage Point. For a nice meal or cup of coffee go to Mozzo Cafe, Starbucks, Tesco Express or the Sandpiper.
After having cleared security, shops like Accessorize, Boots, Discover Glasgow, Dixons Travel, Jo Malone, Swarovski, The Fashion Place and World Duty Free await. As for coffee and restaurants, we recommend the Caledonia, Frankie & Bennys, James Martin Kitchen, Krispy Kreme and The Sanderling.
Airports and Hotels 
One thought on “A quick guide to Glasgow airport in Scotland”
Comments are closed.