Scotland is home to dozens of airports across its diverse landscape.
A member of the United Kingdom, Scotland hosts dozens of airports located on islands and vast cities. Scotland also attracts several long-haul international flights thanks to its status as a tourist hotspot. Let's take a look at the five biggest airports in the country and how many passengers they serve each year.
Unsurprisingly, Scotland's capital comes in as the busiest airport. Edinburgh hosted 3.02 million passengers in 2021, down from a massive 14.7 million in 2019, and making it the sixth-largest in the UK. The single-runway airport contains one large passenger terminal but sees long-haul traffic from North America and the Middle East as tourists, business travelers, and international students arrive in the city each day.
In second place comes Glasgow, Scotland's largest city by size and population. Glasgow Airport welcomed just over 2.07 million passengers in 2021, down from 8.8 million in 2019, leaving the airport as the 10th busiest in the UK. While not as well-known to tourists, Glasgow remains well-connected to major cities in the UK and Europe by low-cost and full-service airlines. The airport also retains connections to Canada with Air Transat and Dubai with Emirates for long-haul flights.
The last podium position goes to Aberdeen, the northeastern port city and industrial hub. Aberdeen Airport saw 1.05 million passengers in 2021, down from the 2.9 million passengers in 2019, and coming in as the 12th biggest airport in the UK. The airport is a base for regional carrier LoganAir and is served internationally by KLM, Ryanair, Windrøe, and more. While it does not boast long-haul flights, Aberdeen sees many summer services to leisure destinations in Europe by airBaltic, TUI, and others.
Coming in at fourth position is Inverness, the gateway to the majestic Scottish highlands. Inverness Airport saw 357,500 passengers in 2021, down from 938,200 passengers in 2019, and leaving it at number 19 on the UK's airport. As a popular tourist destination, the airport is served by British Airways (London Heathrow), easyJet (multiple domestic), and LoganAir (multiple domestic). Internationally, KLM (with its massive UK network), TUI's summer service to Mallorca, and LoganAir's Dublin flights ensure a steady stream of visitors come to the city.
Wrapping up the list is Sumburgh Airport, the main airport serving the Shetland Islands and its capital of Lerwick. The airport attracted 183,900 passengers in 2021, down from 267,400 in 2019, making it the 24th busiest UK airport. However, these numbers are impressive given only LoganAir operates regular flights to the islands, connecting it to London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and more important hubs. The only international flight from Sumburgh is LoganAir's flight to Bergen.
Which of these Scottish airports have you flown to? Which are your favorite airports? Let us know in the comments!
Lead Journalist – India – Pranjal is an experienced journalist with a strong focus on Indian aviation. His background in political science and economics gives him unique insight into issues surrounding international travel and governmental regulations. Pranjal is enthusiastic about new aircraft types and has his stories regularly picked up by renowned publications including Forbes. Based in New Delhi, India.