Glasgow International Airport (GLA) GLA: Departure times and transfers

Flying from/to Glasgow International Airport

Find out the best way to get from Glasgow International Airport to the city centre by doing some research in advance. Should you take a train, bus or a tram from the airport to and from the city centre? Our guide to Glasgow International Airport and the facilities mean you can find your way around the terminal upon arriving and plan the rest of your trip—whether its for a short weekend or a little longer.

Travel from  Glasgow city center to Glasgow International Airport

Glasgow International Airport is Scotland's second busiest terminal after Edinburgh, with around seven million passengers annually heading out to destinations in Europe and North America. Handily situated close to a motorway junction west of the city center, the airport is well served by public transport, with frequent express buses offering the most convenient transfer options. Train services from the city center stop at Paisley, just over one mile (two kilometers) from the airport, with shuttle buses making the short connection. Gaelic speakers visiting the city from the Highlands and Islands will know the hub as Port-adhair Eadar-nàiseanta Ghlaschu but most travelers will settle for calling it Glasgow Airport. 

What's the best way to get to the airport from the city center​?

There are regular express bus connections from Buchanan Street bus station in the city center to Glasgow International Airport. The First Glasgow 500 service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with departures roughly every 15 minutes during the day and evening, and every half hour throughout the night and early morning. Alternative routes to the airport include frequent trains from Glasgow Central Station to Paisley Gilmour Street Station, where the McGill's 757 bus shuttle service offers connections on the brief trip to the terminal.  Scotrail departures to Paisley operate roughly every 15 minutes. Taxis are the most expensive option, but the motorway route means the journey is usually quick. 

How far is it from the city center to the airport?

Glasgow International Airport is located  near Paisley, 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Glasgow city center. The First Glasgow 500 Airport Express buses can complete the trip to the terminal in around 15 minutes, subject to traffic conditions. As most of the journey west is on the M8 motorway, congestion is not usually a concern, although late afternoon and early evening are the likeliest times for hold-ups heading out to the airport. Trains from Glasgow Central Station to Paisley Gilmour Street Station take around ten minutes, with another five to ten minutes required for the 757 bus shuttle link to the departures hall. Taxi services from Glasgow taking the motorway route should be able to reach the airport in around 15 minutes.  

What facilities are there at the airport?

Glasgow International Airport is the main hub for Scotland's largest city, with all the facilities expected of a major international terminal. There are long and short stay parking lots, currency exchange bureaux, ATMs and baggage storage desks. The departures hall is fully accessible, including washrooms and elevators. Dining options include pubs with British and international menus, a pizzeria, fast food outlets, coffee shops  and a seafood stand. In addition to duty free shopping malls and specialist Scotch whisky outlets, there are convenience stores, a pharmacy, lingerie boutique, a beauty salon and news vendors. Business amenities include executive lounges, free WiFi , internet desks and charging points. 

How accessible is the route for those with limited mobility?

First Glasgow 500 express buses are all low floor easy access vehicles, with priority seating spaces for wheelchair users. Most Glasgow city taxis are accessible vehicles.  Scotrail trains provide boarding assistance at Glasgow Central Station and Paisley Gilmour Street.  McGill's 757 buses are low floor step-free access vehicles. At the airport there are help points at the bus stand and at the special assistance host desk check-in areas in the main terminal and T2.  Airport wheelchairs and assistance are provided to the departure gates. The terminal has accessible washrooms and passenger elevators to the departure area. 

Local tips: how to travel to the airport like a local

The First Glasgow 500 express buses to Glasgow International Airport offer a fast and convenient connection to the terminal, with frequent departures from downtown. In addition they have spacious luggage storage racks, USB and wireless charging points, and free WiFi. A day ticket offers a useful saving, including all day travel on Glasgow's city bus network. For travelers based in the West End of the city, a taxi to the airport is usually a faster option than making the trip to Buchanan Street Bus station to catch the bus.