Inverness Airport (INV)
Inverness Airport (INV) is the main commercial airport serving the Scottish Highlands and Islands, located at Dalcross approximately 8 miles north-east of Inverness city centre. Handling around 750,000 passengers per year, it is the principal gateway for one of the UK's most visited tourist regions and provides essential lifeline air services to remote island communities.
easyJet is the primary leisure carrier, operating year-round services to London Gatwick and Bristol, with summer routes to Faro, Alicante and Palma. Loganair's network is equally important — connecting Inverness to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and providing vital links to the Western Isles (Stornoway, Benbecula) and Northern Isles (Kirkwall, Sumburgh). KLM operates a seasonal summer service to Amsterdam Schiphol, opening the Highlands to KLM's worldwide network.
The airport is the natural jumping-off point for the North Coast 500, Loch Ness, the Cairngorms, Outlander filming locations and the Speyside whisky trail. Its single terminal is compact and efficient.
Single terminal
⚠️ In winter, check for weather-related delays — Highland conditions can affect operations.
Most popular routes
Inverness Airport FAQs
Inverness Airport is served by easyJet (London Gatwick, Bristol, and summer sun routes to Faro, Alicante and Palma), Loganair (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and island lifeline routes to Stornoway, Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Benbecula) and KLM (Amsterdam in summer). easyJet covers leisure travel; Loganair is essential for island communities and Scottish business travel.
Yes — INV is the ideal entry point for the North Coast 500 road route, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, the Cairngorms National Park, Outlander filming locations around Inverness and the Great Glen, and the Speyside whisky trail. Direct easyJet flights from London Gatwick make the Highlands reachable in under 2 hours from southern England.
Bus 11 runs from the airport to Inverness city centre in around 20 minutes and costs approximately £3.50. Taxis cost £15–20 and take 15–20 minutes. There is no direct railway at the airport but Inverness station in the city centre has regular trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Caledonian Sleeper to London.
Yes. Loganair operates lifeline services from Inverness to Stornoway (Western Isles), Kirkwall (Orkney), Sumburgh (Shetland) and Benbecula. These routes are essential for remote island communities, with some services operated as public service obligations. Inverness is the key mainland hub for island connectivity.
Highland weather can affect operations, particularly heavy snow and low visibility in winter months. The airport has de-icing equipment but delays are more frequent in winter than at lowland airports. Island routes can also be affected by weather at the destination. Always check your flight status on the morning of travel in winter.
KLM operates a seasonal summer service between Inverness (INV) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). This provides direct access to KLM's global network and is popular with Highlands residents avoiding the need to travel to a hub airport, as well as international tourists arriving for the Highland tourism season.
Yes — Short Stay and Long Stay car parks are available on-site, both close to the terminal. Pre-booking is recommended to secure availability and the best rate, particularly in peak summer months when Highland tourism peaks.
INV is the most convenient UK arrival point for Outlander fans and Highland tourism visitors. Direct easyJet flights from London Gatwick, car hire on-site, and proximity to key sites including Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle and Clava Cairns make it ideal. The NC500 starts effectively from Inverness itself.
Inverness Airport Terminal
Single terminal handling all arrivals and departures.
| Check-in | Opens 2 hours before departure · desks on ground floor |
| Security | Single lane · fast throughput due to airport size |
| Departures lounge | Airside · café, bar, retail, free Wi-Fi |
| Arrivals | Ground floor · baggage reclaim · car hire desks adjacent |
| Car hire | Major operators · desks in arrivals hall · pre-book recommended |
| Bus stop | Outside terminal · Bus 11 → Inverness · 20 min · £3.50 |
Transport to Inverness Airport
| Bus 11 to city centre | ~20 min · £3.50 · Stagecoach |
| Taxi to city centre | ~15–20 min · approx £15–20 |
| Drive (B9039/A96) | 8 miles NE of Inverness city centre |
| Train | No direct rail link — Inverness station in city centre serves Edinburgh, Glasgow and Caledonian Sleeper |
| Car hire | All major operators at arrivals · pre-book for peak summer |
Compare parking options
Pre-booking parking online saves money and guarantees availability, especially in the busy summer Highland season.
Airlines flying from INV
Inverness Airport FAQs
easyJet (Gatwick, Bristol, Faro, Alicante, Palma), Loganair (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Stornoway, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Benbecula) and KLM (Amsterdam — summer only). Loganair's island routes are lifeline services for remote communities.
Yes — INV is the ideal starting point for the North Coast 500. Direct flights from London Gatwick take under 2 hours. Pre-book car hire well in advance as demand is very high in summer.
Bus 11 runs every 30–60 minutes to the city centre (20 min, £3.50). Taxis cost £15–20. No direct rail link at the airport — the city centre station has onward connections.
Yes — Loganair flies to Stornoway, Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Benbecula. Several routes are public service obligation lifeline services for island communities. Inverness is the key mainland interchange hub.
It can. Snow, fog and strong winds are more common here than at lowland airports. De-icing is available but in severe conditions delays or diversions occur. Check your flight status the morning of travel in winter months.
KLM operates a seasonal summer service from INV to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), giving Highlands residents direct access to KLM's global connections without travelling to a hub.
Yes — Short Stay and Long Stay car parks on-site. Both close to the terminal. Pre-book online for peak summer periods when the Highlands is at full tourist capacity.
INV is the most convenient arrival point. Key Outlander filming locations including Culloden Moor, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle and the Great Glen are all within 30–45 minutes. Car hire is available at the airport — essential for exploring locations scattered across the Highlands.