The arrival of WestJet from Toronto.
RIMINI, Italy—Glasgow Airport (GLA) is targeting further long-haul growth and additional European connectivity after securing several new airlines and routes for summer 2026, according to AGS Airports Executive Director aviation and marketing Christopher Tibbett.
The Scottish airport has added four airlines and 15 routes this year, representing almost one million additional seats. Among the most notable gains is the return of United Airlines to Glasgow with nonstop service to Newark, restoring a direct U.S. airline link between Glasgow and the U.S. for the first time since 2019.
Additionally, WestJet has launched flights from Toronto, operating four times per week using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The move marks the airline’s return to GLA for the first time since 2022.
Tibbett tells Routes that Scotland’s growing appeal as a stable leisure destination is helping drive airline interest despite broader geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Alongside North America, Glasgow has also secured new European connectivity. Edelweiss is adding Zurich flights, while Eurowings will launch Hannover service later this summer. Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair are also expanding with new routes to destinations including Lisbon, Milan, Pisa, Rome, and Warsaw. Additionally, Jet2 has added new service to Dubrovnik, while British Airways is launching flights to San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque region.
Looking ahead, Tibbett identified Munich, Copenhagen, Madrid and Athens among the key European markets the airport is still targeting, while long-haul growth remains a strategic priority.
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“As the largest city and economic powerhouse of Scotland, Glasgow sees a strong and diverse underlying population,” he said. “Long-haul remains a growth segment, with Glasgow well-placed to serve this demand in Scotland.”
Tibbett said AGS Airports’ route development strategy is increasingly data driven as competition for airline capacity intensifies across Europe. “The team’s strategy to obtaining new capacity centers on data and analysis,” he said. “A story and a vision are essential, but if it’s not underpinned by credible data that airlines can trust, then why would an airline choose to take a risk on us?”
The growth push comes as AGS Airports embarks on a £350 million ($466 million) investment program across Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Southampton airports following its acquisition by AviAlliance in 2025. GLA is set to undergo a terminal transformation aimed at expanding gate capacity and upgrading passenger facilities.
Despite the positive momentum, Tibbett acknowledged that airports continue to face uncertainty tied to fuel prices, geopolitical instability and shifting airline strategies. “In recent years it feels like we lurch from industry crisis to crisis,” he said.
However, he argued Glasgow’s diversified mix of outbound leisure, inbound tourism, corporate travel and cargo traffic leaves it relatively well-insulated compared with some regional competitors.
Looking longer term, Tibbett said the airport remains confident further route wins will follow.
“Route development is a marathon; not a sprint,” he said. “Given Glasgow Airport’s £250 million transformation program, a population with high propensity to fly and a fast-growing tourism industry, it’s a case of ‘when’, not ‘if’ for many opportunities we are pursuing.”
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