Airport Guide
Aberdeen Airport
Ranking behind Edinburgh and Glasgow as Scotland's third-largest airports, Aberdeen also makes it into the top ten for the whole of the UK in terms of passenger numbers.
Owned and operated by BAA, Aberdeen plays host to all the usual airlines, including several low-cost carriers, while it also serves as the principal helipad linking mainland Scotland with the North Sea oilfields.
Unlike many other UK airports, Aberdeen was not established for military purposes but instead was constructed so as to link the remote Scottish islands with the mainland.
However, it did its duty in the Second World War, serving as a base for fighters protecting the country from German bombing raids launched from Norway as well as to planes carrying out photographic reconnaissance missions.
The true boom came after the discovery of North Sea oil in 1967, with Aberdeen becoming the world's busiest heliport almost overnight.
Since then, fixed-wing aircraft have become increasingly prevalent and now the split between the two is roughly 50:50.
In 2005, Aberdeen Airport was given a further boost as local councillors repealed some long-standing take-off and landing time restrictions, allowing it to be opened around the clock.
Aberdeen Airport is located just five miles north-west of Aberdeen and is easily reached by both car and public transportation.
Notably, there is an adequate link road connecting the airport to the main A96, which runs from Aberdeen to Inverness and from here drivers are able to connect to the rest of Scotland and, in turn, down to England.
The nearby main road also allows for excellent bus and coach services to the airport from Aberdeen as well as other parts of Scotland. However, while the airport is right by Dyce railway station, this and the terminal building are at opposite ends of the runway, meaning a taxi must be taken, though this is fast and inexpensive. From Dyce station, it is just a short ride to the main Aberdeen railway terminal, from where there are links across the UK.
The biggest operator flying out of Aberdeen Airport is currently Eastern Airways, which offers regular services to Bristol, Durham, East Midlands, Humberside, Leeds/Bradford, Norwich, Southampton, Stavanger, Stornoway and Wick.
Also boasting a strong presence on the tarmac is Flybe, which operates routes to Belfast, Birmingham, Exeter, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, Newcastle and Southampton.
Rival budget carrier Ryanair flies to Dublin only, while easyJet serves just London Luton.
Scandinavia Airlines System flies north to Stavanger, Bergen and Copenhagen, while Flyglobespan offers services to sunnier destinations such as Alicante, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife.
Air France flies to Paris, Atlantic Airways to Vagar and KLM City Hopper to Amsterdam.
Owned and operated by BAA, Aberdeen plays host to all the usual airlines, including several low-cost carriers, while it also serves as the principal helipad linking mainland Scotland with the North Sea oilfields.
History of Aberdeen Airport
Unlike many other UK airports, Aberdeen was not established for military purposes but instead was constructed so as to link the remote Scottish islands with the mainland.
However, it did its duty in the Second World War, serving as a base for fighters protecting the country from German bombing raids launched from Norway as well as to planes carrying out photographic reconnaissance missions.
The true boom came after the discovery of North Sea oil in 1967, with Aberdeen becoming the world's busiest heliport almost overnight.
Since then, fixed-wing aircraft have become increasingly prevalent and now the split between the two is roughly 50:50.
In 2005, Aberdeen Airport was given a further boost as local councillors repealed some long-standing take-off and landing time restrictions, allowing it to be opened around the clock.
Travelling to Aberdeen Airport
Aberdeen Airport is located just five miles north-west of Aberdeen and is easily reached by both car and public transportation.
Notably, there is an adequate link road connecting the airport to the main A96, which runs from Aberdeen to Inverness and from here drivers are able to connect to the rest of Scotland and, in turn, down to England.
The nearby main road also allows for excellent bus and coach services to the airport from Aberdeen as well as other parts of Scotland. However, while the airport is right by Dyce railway station, this and the terminal building are at opposite ends of the runway, meaning a taxi must be taken, though this is fast and inexpensive. From Dyce station, it is just a short ride to the main Aberdeen railway terminal, from where there are links across the UK.
Airlines Flying from Aberdeen Airport
The biggest operator flying out of Aberdeen Airport is currently Eastern Airways, which offers regular services to Bristol, Durham, East Midlands, Humberside, Leeds/Bradford, Norwich, Southampton, Stavanger, Stornoway and Wick.
Also boasting a strong presence on the tarmac is Flybe, which operates routes to Belfast, Birmingham, Exeter, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, Newcastle and Southampton.
Rival budget carrier Ryanair flies to Dublin only, while easyJet serves just London Luton.
Scandinavia Airlines System flies north to Stavanger, Bergen and Copenhagen, while Flyglobespan offers services to sunnier destinations such as Alicante, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife.
Air France flies to Paris, Atlantic Airways to Vagar and KLM City Hopper to Amsterdam.