GLA-Spot1
Aberdeen Intl. Airport Spotting Guide
February 28, 2016
Inverness Airport Spotting Guide
April 9, 2016Glasgow Airport Spotting Guide
- last modified on April 7, 2023
Glasgow Airport , also unofficially Glasgow International Airport, (IATA: GLA, ICAO: EGPF), formerly ‘Abbotsinch Airport’, then ‘Renfrew Airport’, is an international airport in Scotland, located 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) west of Glasgow city centre. In 2015 the airport handled over 8.7 million passengers, a 12.9% annual increase, making it the second busiest in Scotland, after Edinburgh Airport, and the eighth busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It is the primary airport serving the west of Scotland and is the principal transatlantic and direct long-haul entry airport into Scotland.
The airport is owned and operated by AGS Airports which also owns and operates Aberdeen and Southampton Airports. It was previously owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Holdings (formerly known as BAA). The airport’s largest tenants are British Airways and Loganair (currently franchising using Flybe), the latter using it as a hub. Other major airlines using GLA as a base include Flybe, EasyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and Thomson Airways Also Emirates operate twice daily and Virgin will operate from this year year round to KMCO Orlando
Glasgow airport also has football charters and sometimes Golf traffic too both bring in special planes. Also Glasgow is home to Loganair so the Saab 340s and two Twin otters are based there also. There is a site that gives day to day logs below https://www.egpf.vze.com/
Written by Peter Adam / (Based in Scotland) – Last Updated: April 2023 – Spot 3
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| Airline Variety | |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather |  |
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 05/23 | 2’665m (8’743 ft) Asphalt |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 1 | All other carriers |
| Terminal 2 | Jet2, Ryanair, Air Transat |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Any UK Airport a ladder up against a fence is a bad idea and is forbidden. Beware Glasgow airport has a wire that at the fence sets a alarm if you touch the wire. You can take your pictures throw the fences but its not allowed to stay to much. Take the picture and then get back 1-2 meters from the fences. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is not needed at most of the spots are reachable by foot from the terminal and by bus from the city. See detailed description below. |
| Restrooms | Inside the terminal |
| Drinks/Food | Inside the terminal plus there’s a 24 hour tesco and a gas station near by plus there is Campsie snacks beside spot 9 where you can buy hot food. |
| Hotels | Around the airport some hotels could be found. |
| Season | Mostly summer and when football is on as the airport gets Adhoc traffic. But winters are wet cold, dull and quiet. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 05/23 | Runway 23 seems to be the runway used the most. |
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Spot #1 – Area J Royal Pan |
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| WHERE | Walk from the terminal past terminal 2 then follow the road past the BA offices you there’s a road that goes past the cargo buildings before the BA hangars take the small road on your right then take 1st left at the roundabout follow past the small houses then the area is on your left hand side past Signature. There is no parking space at this location and it is only reachable by foot or public transport. |
| WHAT | Parked up Business jets taxing and helicopters landing departing. You need to shoot through the fence. |
| TIME | From sunrise until 1500 hours pm depending on angle. |
| MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-200 mm |
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Spot #2 – Gate 3 / Area Romeo – runway 23 arrivals |
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| WHERE | From the terminal and spot 1 this can be reached following down the road past the two new GAMA hangars. If coming from the city by bus take McGills Buses service 23/X23 from Glasgow to Erskine stops close to spot 4. Runs about every 20 minutes. There is no parking space at this location and it is only reachable by foot or public transport. |
| WHAT | Parked up jets on Romeo 23 landings 05 vacating shots. You need to shoot through the fence. |
| TIME | 1000 until 1530 |
| MISC. | There is nothing close to this spot. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Bizjet parked 24-70mm / Taxi 70-200mm / Landing 70-200mm |
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Spot #3 – Crash gate 2 – Electricity box |
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| WHERE | A five minute walk from spot 2 along the road. By public transport: McGills Buses service 23/X23 from Glasgow to Erskine stops close to spot 4. Runs about every 20 minutes. There is no parking space at this location and it is only reachable by foot or public transport.
+++ APR 2023: The road is closed for traffic now: spot can only be reached by foot/bike. There is a big dirt mound on the opposite site of the electricity box offering nice views +++ |
| WHAT | 23 line ups 05 vacating shots 23 landing shots. You need to shoot through the fence. |
| TIME | Head on from sunrise to 10 am Lined up landing 1000 am till 1530. |
| MISC. | Bear in mind its a busy road so take care and also after heavy rain crash gate 2 gets flooded after rain so there’s spots through the fence before the crash gate. If you’re able to climb onto the electricity box in the photo, you can take photos over the fence of traffic on both the runway and the parallel taxiway |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-200mm |
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Spot #4 – The bridge – Landing lights |
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| WHERE | From the last spot follow the road north east then you will see traffic lights. Then its your 1st on the left if you drive there’s a small bridge where you going to stand. But for parking cross it to the other side of the landing lights on your right hand side and park on the right on a small lay by. From there walk back to the bridge. By public transport: McGills Buses service 23/X23 from Glasgow to Erskine stops there. Runs about every 20 minutes. |
| WHAT | 23 arrivals only. |
| TIME | You can easily switch between the spots when the sun has turned to the other side. Latter for the summer only. |
| MISC. | There is a hotel nearby The Normandy Hotel with a restroom plus bar you can buy a drink etc. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-200mm, depending on motive. |
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Spot #5 – Yonderton Farm / Crash Gate 14 – 23 arr & dep |
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| WHERE | From the last spot follow the road west until the big roundabout then go left pass by the rolls royce plant on your right hand side follow the road until the end then take the 1st left then a few hundred meters take the 1st left again by car to the Strawberry farm you need a car as its very far away. To get there without a car take the McGill’s 757 bus bound for Clydebank. The bus leaves from Paisley and stops at the airport terminal. Get off at the Inchinnan Business Park and walk back. It’s not too far. Only 1km to the start of the farm road. |
| WHAT | 23 arrivals and departures. |
| TIME | In the summer evenings from 1700 till sunset only. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here so take what you need. Plus if you come here watch your bag because the farmer has a dog so it will sniff and eat any food you have in your bag lying about. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-200mm |
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Spot #6 – Taxiway Yanky |
|---|---|
| WHERE | You pass this spot on your way to the last spot 5 its the 1st crash gate you see before you go down to the crash gate on your right hand side. |
| WHAT | Bizjets parked up Longstay aircraft 23 departures with the terminal plus you get Loganair Saabs performing engine runes here to. |
| TIME | In the summer evenings from 1700 till sunset only. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here so take what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-300mm |
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Spot #7 – Crash gate – Runway 05 / Line ups Evening |
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| WHERE | This spot is on the cycle track from the next spot or from the last spot take a left from the farm road and follow the perimeter round this spot you will see on your left hand side. |
| WHAT | Runway 05 head on shots Line up shots also and 05 landing shot. You need to shoot through the fence. |
| TIME | In the summer evenings from 1700 till sunset only. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here so take what you need. Plus its a dangerous road so watch yourself and also depending on long grass some shots may not have wheels. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-200mm depending on motive. |
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Spot #8 – Loganair Building |
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| WHERE | From the terminal walk westwards for 5 minutes until you have reached the western ramp and the loganair building. You can position yourself along the fence. |
| WHAT | 23 departures 23 arrivals aircraft pushing back. Close ups of aircraft parked up on 37 39. You need to shoot through the fence which is bit tricky here. |
| TIME | Departing from sunrise till 1400 hrs / pushing back from 1100 until sunset. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here so take what you need from the terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-300mm |
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Spot #9 – Soccer Fields – runway 05 |
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| WHERE | From the terminal building follow up past Loganair until the Dead end Building site at end then take 1st left follow all the way till the end passing a nursery. From there follow the small path to the west into Paisley Moss Nature Reserve (see signs), pass football pitches on your right-hand side follow the small bike track until you reached the fence. You have to walk for about 10 minutes all in one. By car park your car at the nursery Glasgow Airport at St Andrew´s Cres and start from there. |
| WHAT | 05 Line up and arrivals shots. 05 Head on shots also. You need to shoot through the fence. |
| TIME | Depends on the angle and where the aircaft is. From 1000 am till 1630 pm. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here so take what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-200mm depending on motive. |
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Spot #10 – Barnsford Road – runway 05 |
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| WHERE | The spot is next to Barnsford Road on a bike path so pay attention to the few cyclists. Continue from #9 for a few minutes on the bike path until you have reached the road. |
| WHAT | Best place for a clear sight for arrivals on RWY05. |
| TIME | From sunrise till around 14:00 in the summer. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here so take what you need. No ladder needed. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70mm A330; 250mm Viking Dash-6-400 |
Anywhere that you would recommend for winter evenings at the moment? I see a lot of notes for Summer, but not sure if they are still worth a visit at the moment.
You can go to all locations throughout the year. To avoid backlit if taking pictures some locations are only available in the winter/summer.
Spot #4 on my recent visit to this spot 19th July 2020 a new (pedestrian bridge) is now in place to the right of the road bridge. There were also road works in place with a 3 way traffic system. Still a good spot to film /take photos from new bridge only an obstruction for a few seconds as aircraft land.
Glasgow Airport , also unofficially Glasgow International Airport, (IATA: GLA, ICAO: EGPF), formerly ‘Abbotsinch Airport’, then ‘Renfrew Airport’,
It is called “Glasgow International Airport “.
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Has never been called ” Renfrew Airport ” That was an old airport that served Glasgow and the M8 motorway was built over it’s old runway.
Due to ongoing redevelopment Spots 1,2 and 3 are now only accessible by foot,cycle or public transport…all space for parking cars are now removed. It is expected that spots 2 and 3 will be closed within the next 2 years due to the redevelopment rendering those areas airside.
Update to above.. Spot 3 the electricity box, is now only accessible by foot or cycle, the road has now been closed to traffic… Still a popular spot and has a high mound opposite the electricity box now which gives views over the fence although this mound may only remain temporarily while works continue
Thanks, note added.
Spot #4 may be accessed by by frequent public transport. McGills Buses service 23/X23 from Glasgow to Erskine stops there. Runs about every 20 minutes.
Spot #5: To get there without a car take the McGill’s 757 bus bound for Clydebank. The bus leaves from Paisley and stops at the airport terminal. Get off at the Inchinnan Business Park and walk back. It’s not too far. Only 1km to the start of the farm road.