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Inverness Airport Guide (INV)
Airport info
Code:
INV
No. of terminals:
1
Dialling code:
+44
Address:
Dalcross, Inverness, Scotland, IV2 7JB, United Kingdom
Location:
Inverness Airport is situated 13km (8 miles) northeast of Inverness city centre.
Telephone:
+44 1667 464 000
Inverness Airport (IATA: INV, ICAO: EGPE) is the only international airport serving the Scottish Highlands and is situated at Dalcross, approximately thirteen kilometres northeast of Inverness city centre. Owned and operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), it handled around 796,000 passengers in 2024 and approximately 805,000 in the 2024-25 fiscal year, figures that represent a steady recovery and modest growth following the pandemic period. The airport is the busiest in the HIAL network, which also manages a further twelve airports across the Highlands and Islands, several of them among the smallest commercial airports in the UK.
For visitors to the Highlands, Inverness Airport is the most practical starting point for a wide range of Scottish travel. From the terminal, the North Coast 500 route, Loch Ness and the Great Glen, the Cairngorms National Park, Speyside whisky country, the Black Isle and the Moray Firth coast are all within reasonable driving distance. The airport is served by five airlines flying to ten scheduled destinations, with a network weighted towards London connections that enable one-stop access from virtually anywhere in the world via Heathrow, Gatwick and Amsterdam.
Inverness Airport has won the ACI Europe Best Airport award for Customer Service four consecutive times in the under two million passengers category, for the years 2020 through 2023. This recognition reflects a consistent emphasis on the passenger experience that is evident in the airport's friendly, unhurried atmosphere. A new railway station opened at the airport in February 2023, significantly improving public transport access and providing the first direct rail link in the airport's history.
Layout
Inverness Airport has a single, compact terminal building that has the virtue of being easy to navigate. The check-in hall and arrivals area occupy the landside section of the ground floor, with all facilities clearly visible on entry. Security leads to the airside departure lounge, which contains the gates, retail, dining and the passenger lounge. The entire terminal is on a human scale that experienced travellers frequently find refreshing after larger airports: nothing is far from anything else, queues tend to be shorter, and the unhurried character of the operation makes it a stress-free starting point for a Highland visit. The new railway station is connected to the terminal by a clearly marked covered path.
Check-In
All airlines check in from the main hall. Self-service kiosks and bag drop are available for passengers who have completed online check-in. Given the airport's scale, check-in queues are generally shorter than at larger airports, but arriving at least 90 minutes before departure is still recommended. For early-morning London and Amsterdam services, which carry a mixture of business and leisure passengers, the check-in area processes efficiently.
Security
Security is standard and straightforward at Inverness. The compact nature of the airport means that the screening point is the main bottleneck at busy times, and passengers with early flights on peak summer days should arrive with adequate buffer time. The airport operates in accordance with UK airport security regulations, including liquids restrictions and electronics screening. Staff at Inverness have a reputation for being approachable and efficient.
Information Desk
The information desk (tel: +44 1667 464 000) is located in the centre of the main concourse.
Email address:
info@hial.co.uk
From the centre of Inverness take the A96 northeast towards Aberdeen. The airport is located a short distance off the A96, between the turnings to Castle Stuart and Fort George. It is well signposted and the journey takes about 15 minutes.
Public Transport
Inverness Airport railway station opened on 2 February 2023, providing the first direct rail link to the terminal. Located a short, well-lit walk of approximately five minutes from the terminal building, the station is served by ScotRail on the Inverness to Nairn and Aberdeen line. Trains stop at the airport station on services in both directions, making it possible to travel directly between Inverness city centre and the airport by train in approximately twelve minutes. Connections from further afield, including from the south via Perth and Aviemore, can change at Inverness city station. The station building is compact and functional, with the path between it and the terminal clearly signposted. Since opening, the station has handled over 53,000 passengers annually.
Bus:
Bus services to and from Inverness Airport have been provided by several operators. Ember operates coach services through the airport connecting to Edinburgh, Dundee and other destinations, providing a low-cost intercity option as an alternative to flying. Local bus connections to Inverness city centre are available, though the service frequency is lower than at the larger Scottish airports and the taxi or rail options are often more convenient for most passengers. Coach services are clearly indicated from the terminal front.
Taxi and Ride-Hailing:Taxis are available from the rank at the front of the terminal. A metered taxi to Inverness city centre takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes and costs in the region of £18 to £25. Several local taxi companies serve the airport and can be pre-booked for early-morning departures or guaranteed late-evening arrivals. Uber operates in Inverness and can be used to and from the airport via the app.
Terminal facilities
Currency exchange services are available at the airport. ATMs are located in the terminal. The range of currencies available for exchange is more limited than at larger airports; passengers requiring less common currencies are advised to exchange before travelling to the airport.
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal building. The lounge provides complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi for lounge users. Connectivity is suitable for general browsing, email and messaging.
The airside area provides a bar and café with hot food, sandwiches, coffee and a full range of drinks throughout the operating day. The atmosphere is informal and the service attentive. The Highlands character extends to the food and drink offering, with Scottish produce and some locally sourced ingredients featuring in the menu. The scale is modest, and the bar is the social heart of the departure lounge in a way that reflects the airport's community character. Landside, a small café serves passengers and those seeing off travellers. Provisions at the airport are unlikely to require extensive planning: most departing passengers spend only a limited time airside.
The airside departure area at Inverness contains a WHSmith outlet for books, newspapers, magazines and basic travel essentials. A duty-free shop offers a select range of spirits, fragrances and confectionery. The retail offering is appropriately scaled for the airport's size and passenger volume, prioritising the most commonly needed items rather than attempting a wider commercial proposition. Locally themed gifts and Scottish whisky selections provide a useful range of travel gifts for visitors departing after a Highlands stay.
Left luggage facilities are available at the airport. Enquiries regarding storage should be made at the terminal information desk.
Inverness Airport has a single passenger lounge in the airside departure area, operated by Swissport under the Aspire brand. The lounge is accessible to all departing passengers regardless of airline or class, through day-pass purchase or participation in lounge membership programmes including Priority Pass and DragonPass. It offers comfortable seating, complimentary light food and beverages, Wi-Fi and flight information screens. The lounge is particularly valued at a small airport like Inverness, where the alternative is the relatively limited main concourse. Pre-booking is available and advisable on busy summer days when demand for the small space can exceed walk-in availability.
Other
There is a photo booth and a multi-denominational chapel. First aid treatment is available from the information desk.
Airport facilities
Photocopy and fax facilities are available from the information desk. The airport can also provide conference facilities, catering and presentation equipment for meetings (tel: +44 1667 464 000). Additional meeting facilities are also available at larger city hotels, including the Best Western Palace (tel: +44 1463 223 243; www.invernesspalacehotel.co.uk).
Accessibility provision at Inverness Airport is comprehensive given its size, with the compact single-level layout of the terminal making navigation particularly straightforward for passengers with mobility challenges. Wheelchair assistance is available and should be requested through the airline at least 48 hours before travel. Accessible parking is available close to the terminal entrance. Accessible toilets and assistance services are available throughout the building. The railway station connecting to the terminal is fully accessible with level boarding. HIAL's operations team can be contacted directly for passengers with complex requirements.
Inverness Airport offers short-stay, long-stay and accessible parking in car parks close to the terminal. Short-stay parking is within a short walk of the entrance and is suited to those dropping off or collecting passengers, or for brief trips of a day or less. Long-stay parking provides more economical daily rates for trips of several days to several weeks. Pre-booking online is available through the HIAL website at www.hial.co.uk/inverness-airport and is recommended to secure the best rates, particularly during the summer tourist season and over school holiday periods.
Car hire is available at Inverness Airport, with desks from Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz and Avis all represented. A hire car is the most practical way to explore the Highlands, where public transport connections between attractions are limited and the scenery rewards a self-directed pace. From the airport, the Castle Stuart Golf Links is five minutes away; Nairn Golf Club and Nairn Dunbar Golf Club are around fifteen minutes; Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle are within thirty minutes; and the Speyside Malt Whisky Trail begins approximately twenty miles to the east. Royal Dornoch, consistently ranked among the world's finest golf courses, is within an hour's drive north. Pre-booking car hire online is strongly recommended in summer months, when demand significantly exceeds supply and the best vehicle categories sell out well in advance.
Hotels
Two hotels are located within walking distance of the terminal at Inverness Airport, making it convenient for travellers with very early departures or very late arrivals. The Courtyard by Marriott Inverness Airport and the Holiday Inn Express Inverness Airport are both situated a short walk from the terminal entrance, connected by marked footpaths. Both properties offer reliable mid-range accommodation with on-site dining and parking packages. Neither is a destination hotel, but both serve their purpose of removing the stress of an early-morning drive to the airport.
Inverness city centre, approximately fifteen to twenty minutes away by taxi or train, offers a wider range of accommodation from budget guesthouses to the historic Kingsmills Hotel and the centrally located Crown Court Hotel. The city is small enough that most of its accommodation is within easy reach of the main station, from which the airport train now departs. During peak summer months and for the increasingly popular Hogmanay period, booking accommodation in Inverness well in advance is advisable.
Glendruidh House is located near to central Inverness and offers park-and-fly options for travellers departing Inverness Airport following their stay. The traditional country house hotel also provides free Wi-Fi internet access and serves food each evening.
Druid Glen, Old Edinburgh Road South,
IV2 6AR,
Inverness,
United Kingdom
The Victorian-style Royal Highland Hotel is a 15-minute drive from Inverness Airport and has two restaurants and a cafe, as well as meeting and event space.
Station Square, Academy Street,
IV1 1LG,
Inverness,
United Kingdom
Boasting a spa and swimming pool, the 88-room Best Western Palace Hotel & Spa overlooks the river in the centre of the city. Facilities include a gym and pool, along with a new restaurant.
8 Ness Walk,
IV3 5NG,
Inverness,
United Kingdom
Perched on the banks of the River Ness, 16km (10 miles) from Inverness Airport, The Waterside Hotel has a restaurant with river views as well as conference and event facilities.
19 Ness Bank,
IV2 4SF,
Inverness,
United Kingdom
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