Scotland’s busiest flight routes

In 2014, millions of Scots took to the skies for business, pleasure or just simply to escape dreich domestic weather. But where did they fly to?

A plane takes off on the new fllight path. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Using data collected from four of Scotland’s busiest airports, the most popular flight destinations for Scots can be revealed. The number of passengers flying to particular destinations provides an excellent barometer of where exactly Scots like to jet off to.

AMSTERDAM

The Dutch capital was the most popular international destination amongst Scots last year. It was the second most popular route, in terms of passenger numbers, from Edinburgh airport, fourth most popular from Inverness and fifth most popular from Glasgow.

Amsterdam has become an attractive destination Scots due to its relatively short flight duration (just over an hour from Glasgow) and cheap prices. A return flight from Amsterdam to Edinburgh last month started from as low as £52. Throughout the summer months there were 82 flights a week to Amsterdam from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports making it easier than ever to jet to the quirky capital city.

NEW YORK

The big apple was at the top of Scots must-see list as one of the most popular destinations from Edinburgh and Glasgow airport. New York, one of twenty long haul routes, is a main business route for Glasgow airport alongside Dubai and London. Travel averaged at around seven and a half hours and only costed around £250 for a return last month.

LONDON

Statue of Liberty, New York.

England was a favoured stop off last year with Gatwick airport being the most popular destination in the capital city. Gatwick was the busiest route from Inverness airport with Luton, Bristol and Manchester following close behind.

English airports were the most popular destination for people flying from Edinburgh airport with flights to Bristol, Birmingham and Southampton having the highest number of passengers. 35 flights to London take off daily from Glasgow making it easily accessible for business or pleasure. Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton were the most popular spots from Glasgow airport with return prices averaging at around £30.

Bristol, Birmingham and Southampton were prominent English destinations for those flying from Edinburgh.

DUBLIN

Flights to Ireland’s capital city were hugely popular last year, coming second as the most used route from Edinburgh. As the home of Ryanair’s headquarters, return flights on the airline were as low as £15. making it an easy getaway for day trips or weekend breaks.

BARCELONA

Flying directly to Barcelona has served Glasgow Prestwick airport well as 54,000 passengers boarded a flight to the Spanish city during the month of July alone.

Prestwick acts second and third most popular destinations are also Spanish destinations, with 40,000 passengers boarding flights to Alicante and Tenerife from the South Ayrshire airport in the same month.

Most popular flight routes from Edinburgh and Glasgow airports:

EDINBURGH AIRPORT

London

Amsterdam

Dublin

Bristol

Paris Charles de Gaulle

Birmingham

Belfast

Frankfurt

New York – Newark and JFK

Southampton

GLASGOW AIRPORT

London Heathrow

London Gatwick

London City

Dubai

Amsterdam

New York

Philadelphia

Halifax

Dublin