Glasgow Airport is about 7 mi west of the city center on the M8 to Greenock. The airport serves international and domestic flights, and most major European carriers have frequent and convenient connections (some via airports in England) to many cities on the Continent. There's frequent shuttle service from London, as well as regular flights from Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Southampton, Isle of Man, and Jersey. There are also flights from Wales (Cardiff) and Ireland (Belfast, Dublin, and Londonderry). Local Scottish connections can be made to Aberdeen, Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Shetland (Sumburgh), Stornoway, and Tiree.

Prestwick Airport, on the Ayrshire coast about 30 mi southwest of Glasgow and for some years eclipsed by Glasgow Airport, has grown in importance, not least because of lower airfares from Ryanair.

Information

Glasgow Airport (0141/887-1111. www.baa.co.uk). Prestwick Airport (01292/511006. www.gpia.co.uk).

Transfers

From Glasgow Airport: Although there's a railway station about 2 mi from Glasgow Airport (Paisley Gilmour Street), most people travel to the city center by bus or taxi. It takes about 20 minutes, slightly longer at rush hour. Metered taxis are available outside domestic arrivals. The fare should be £15-£18.

Express buses run from Glasgow Airport (outside departures lobby) to near the Central railway station, to Queen Street railway station, and to the Buchanan Street bus station. There's a service every 15 minutes throughout the day. The fare is £3.30 on both Scottish Citylink and Fairline buses.

The drive from Glasgow Airport into the city center is normally quite easy, even if you're used to driving on the right. The M8 motorway runs beside the airport (Junction 29) and takes you straight into the Glasgow city center. Thereafter Glasgow's streets follow a grid pattern, at least in the city center, but a map is useful and can be supplied by the car-rental company.

Most companies that provide chauffeur-driven cars and tours will also do limousine airport transfers. Companies that are currently members of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board are Charlton, Corporate Travel, Little's, Peter Holmes, and Robert Neil.

From Prestwick Airport: An hourly coach service makes trips to Glasgow but takes much longer than the train. There's a rapid half-hourly train service (hourly on Sunday) direct from the terminal building to Glasgow Central. Strathclyde Passenger Transport and ScotRail offer an AirTrain discount ticket that allows you to travel for 50% of the standard rail fare. Just show a valid airline ticket (boarding cards are not accepted), for a flight to or from Prestwick Airport when you purchase your rail ticket from a booking office or conductor.

By car the city center is reached via the fast A77 in about 40 minutes (longer in rush hour). Metered taxi cabs are available at the airport. The fare to Glasgow is about £40.

Contact

Charlton (0141/570-2000. www.limo-drive.co.uk). Corporate Travel (01355/236-111. www.corptrav.co.uk). Little's (0141/883-2111. www.littles.co.uk). Peter Holmes (01389/830688). Robert Neil (0141/641-2125).