CityLink Announces Glasgow Airport to Haymarket Service

Scottish Citylink has today (October 8th) placed tickets on sale for its new coach service between Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh Haymarket and Blantyre, with services commencing on October 24th.

This new service will operate every 60 minutes between Glasgow Airport and Baillieston, with services alternating every hour between Blantyre and Edinburgh, the timetable is available below.

Fares one this service are partially covered by the £2 fare cap in the West of Scotland, with fares between Glasgow Airport and Harthill being capped at £2, and a one way fare between the airport and Edinburgh costing £10.70, NEC cards can be used on this service.

Most notably, this service will route via the SEC in Glasgow restoring a direct link between Glasgow Airport and the events campus for the first time since 2015, making access to events and the various hotels in the area significantly easier for international travellers visiting Glasgow.

This new service should also, theoretically, make it easier for AGS Airports to market themselves as a true gateway to Scotland, as having a direct link to the capital makes flying into Glasgow a more appealing, potentially cheaper, option for international tourists.

Passengers in Edinburgh also now have a direct link to the SEC, making it easier for businesses and locals on the East Coast to access Scotlands largest events campus.

Citylink will now operate 4 routes from Glasgow Airport, these are;

• 903: Edinburgh Haymarket/Blantyre
• 915: Glasgow to Portree/Uig (2 daily)
• 926: Glasgow to Campbeltown (1 daily)
• 976: Glasgow to Oban (1 daily)

Industry Comments

Scottish Citylink Managing Director Simone Walsh said:

“This is a exciting new route for lots of reasons and one that we’re so pleased to be announcing. It will represent the first direct coach transfer between Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh city centre, it offers new journey options that customers don’t currently have available, and it provides the perfect complement to our longstanding AIR service between Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow city centre.

“We’re delighted to be working alongside the team at Glasgow Airport on this, to help them deliver another reliable and affordable public transport link for their customers to benefit from. We very much look forward to welcoming customers on to our new services.”

Gavin Birch-Williams, Managing Director at Glasgow Airport, said:

“We are delighted to join Citylink in celebrating the launch of its new 903 service which, for the first time, provides a direct connection between Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh city centre.

“Connectivity is essential to ensure that Glasgow Airport is accessible to a wider reach of people, and we want to make those journeys as easy as possible.

“We will continue to work with our partners to strengthen those connections, and we look forward to welcoming passengers travelling on the new route.”

Personal Comments

As somebody who has been commenting on surface access at Glasgow Airport for a number of years, the introduction of this new 903 service is certainly a step in the right direction.

This service will provide a key connection from Glasgow Airport to the SEC, as well as providing a direct link across the central belt, making access to Glasgow Airport easier for potential customers to access the airport.

I do hope this service is well used, and that Glasgow Airport promotes this service on a regular basis on social media and its website.

Although a welcome step in the right direction, I do hope AGS dedicates some of the £350 million investment across its airports into public transport infrastructure, as the current bus stops at Glasgow Airport lack sufficent seating and public information displays, while signage throughout the airport towards its bus stops is poor.

However, it is disappointing that the press release issued by Glasgow Airport makes several references to the AIR service between Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport, as it seems strange for Glasgow Airport to be highlighting, and promoting, a direct surface access link from its own catchment area to its largest competitor.