Scottish aviation hits record passenger numbers, despite Middle East disruption

• xLatest aviation trends data shows that Scottish aviation broke passenger records in the second quarter of this year, despite widely reported disruption caused by conflict in the Middle East.
• Between April and June, almost 300,000 more passengers travelled through Scottish airports – a nearly 4% increase compared to the same period last year.
• This growth was largely driven by low-cost airlines, with Ryanair carrying 13% more passengers through Scottish airports.

by Lucy Ashton

Edinburgh Airport welcomed more than 200,000 more passengers than the same period last year (+5%), while Glasgow Airport saw a 3% increase. Inverness Airport saw passenger numbers grow by 8% year-on-year, ranking among one of the largest increases in this period.

Cargo volumes also grew across Scotland, with Glasgow Prestwick recording a 197% increase in cargo tonnage, alongside growth at Edinburgh (+9%) and Glasgow (+4%).

This continued the trend seen in the first three months of 2026 of holidaymakers flying in search of European sun. The number of Scottish passengers travelling to Faro and Malaga increasing by 13%.

Ross Lydall, spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:

“Demand for flying remains high, as Scottish passengers adjust their travel plans around global events.

“The growth in passengers travelling to and from Scottish airports was higher than that seen across the wider UK.

“These results remind us of highlight the sector’s resilience and hard work and keep the UK on course for another record-breaking year.”

Keir Mather, Aviation, Maritime and Freight Minister, said:

“Our aviation industry continues to show its strength and resilience, with record numbers of holidaymakers taking off this Spring, helping to support jobs, businesses and growth across the UK.

“We acted quickly to support airlines and airports against the backdrop of conflict in the Middle East, including giving airlines greater flexibility to lock in flight schedules early, helping to keep last-minute disruption to a minimum, with fewer than 1% of flights cancelled at short notice between May and July.

“This shows that our action, alongside the resilience and hard work of airlines and airports, is paying off and we will keep working with industry to keep people and businesses moving.”

Other findings from the quarterly data included:

• Amsterdam was the most popular destination flown from Scottish airports, followed by Dublin.

• The most popular destinations for UK* passengers in Q2 2026 were Dublin, Palma de Mallorca, Amsterdam, Alicante and Malaga.
• More than 81 million passengers travelled through UK airports between April and June, narrowly breaking last year’s record for travel in the same period.
• Asia also saw significant growth in passengers flying from the UK, especially China (+11%), Pakistan (+307%) and India (+5%).

• This period coincided with a continuation of the conflict in the Middle East, impacting passengers in some regions and leading to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to advise against non-essential travel to the region until June 18. Passenger numbers travelling to Dubai halved compared to last year, and Middle Eastern airlines also saw significant reductions.

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, the trade association for UK airports, said: 

“It is good to see that air travel has continued to grow, despite ongoing challenges in places like the Middle East.

“As an island nation, our air links play a pivotal role in business, trade, investment and tourism so it is extremely important that we support and grow our connectivity.

“This will contribute towards the economic growth which is key to the UK’s future prosperity.”

 A spokesperson from Airlines UK, the trade body for UK registered airlines, said: 

“This data confirms aviation’s importance to the British public, its vital role as a growth engine for the UK economy, and its resilience in the face of geopolitical turbulence.

“Satisfaction with air travel has never been higher, with UK airlines continuing to work hard to meet growing demand whilst providing choice, service and competitive fares and reducing our environmental impact.”