You've finally decided to do it. You've seen the photos of the Old Man of Storr, the neon-green cliffs of the Quiraing, and those crystal-clear Fairy Pools. Now you’re sat at your laptop, typing "flights to Isle of Skye" into a search engine, expecting to see a nice little airport code like SKYE or something.
But then you see the results.
Wait. Why is it showing me Glasgow? Why is Inverness popping up? Is Benbecula a real place? Honestly, the first thing you need to know about flying to this corner of the world is that the Isle of Skye doesn't actually have a commercial airport.
Yeah. I know.
There is an airstrip at Broadford (called Ashaig), but unless you own a private jet or you're part of a very specific emergency service crew, you aren't landing there. To get those famous misty mountain vibes, you have to play a bit of a logistics game. It's totally doable, but it takes a little savvy to not end up stuck in a rental car for eight hours when you could’ve been there in three.
The Reality of Flights to Isle of Skye
Since you can't land on the island itself, your "flights to Isle of Skye" are actually flights to the nearest Scottish hubs. You have three main contenders, and picking the wrong one is the fastest way to ruin your first day of vacation.
Inverness Airport (INV) is your best friend.
It’s the closest thing to a "Skye airport" you'll find. From the tarmac at Inverness, you’re looking at a roughly 2-hour and 15-minute drive to the Skye Bridge. It’s a stunning drive, too—you’ll pass Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle. Most people coming from London fly into here because easyJet and British Airways run the route multiple times a day.
Glasgow International (GLA) is the "scenic" choice.
It’s about 4.5 to 5 hours away from Skye. Why would you choose this? Well, if you’re coming from the US or Canada, Glasgow often has way better prices and fewer connections. Plus, the drive up through Glencoe is arguably one of the best road trips on the planet. If you have the time, it’s worth the extra miles.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the cultural detour.
It’s a bit further than Glasgow—usually 5 to 6 hours depending on how many sheep are crossing the road in Perthshire. It’s a great option if you want to spend a couple of days in the capital before heading north, but if your goal is purely "get to Skye fast," Inverness wins every time.
What about Benbecula?
You might see search engines suggesting Benbecula Airport (BEB).
Technically, it’s "close" on a map. But there’s a catch. Benbecula is on a different island (the Outer Hebrides). To get from there to Skye, you’d need to take a ferry. Unless you’re planning an epic island-hopping odyssey across the Atlantic edge of Scotland, don't book this thinking it’s a shortcut. It’s not.
How to Actually Book This Without Losing Your Mind
If you're flying from London, you've got it easy. You can hop on a flight at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Luton and be in Inverness in about 90 minutes.
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For the international crowd—especially those coming from New York, Chicago, or LA—you’re likely going to hit a hub first. My advice? Look for flights into London Heathrow (LHR) or Amsterdam (AMS). Both have solid connections to Inverness. KLM flies from Amsterdam to Inverness, which is a weirdly convenient "back door" into the Highlands that lets you skip the chaos of London entirely.
Timing is everything
Prices for flights to the Highlands swing wildly. In the dead of January, you might find a ticket from London for £40. In July? Double it. Or triple it.
Also, watch out for the "Loganair Factor." Loganair is Scotland’s airline, and they fly the smaller routes. Their planes are sturdy, but they’re small. If you’re used to giant Boeings, the 48-seat Embraer might feel a bit... cozy.
The "Last Mile" Problem: Getting from the Airport to the Island
Booking the flight is only half the battle. Once you land in Inverness or Glasgow, you still have to actually get to the island.
- Car Rental: This is the only way to do Skye properly. Public transport on the island exists, but it’s infrequent and won't get you to the trailheads at 6 AM. Book your car the second you book your flight. In the summer of 2025, rental cars in Inverness were rarer than a sunny day in November.
- The Train: You can take the train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh. It’s widely cited as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. Once you hit Kyle, you're right at the foot of the Skye Bridge, where you can grab a local bus or a taxi.
- The Bus: Citylink runs coaches from Glasgow and Inverness directly to Portree (the "capital" of Skye). It’s cheap, but you’re at the mercy of the schedule.
Real Talk: The Weather Factor
Don't trust the arrival times too much. This is the North Atlantic. "Dreich" is a word you'll learn quickly—it means gray, drizzly, and generally miserable. Fog frequently delays flights into Inverness. If you’re booking a tight connection, don't. Give yourself at least three hours between an international arrival and your domestic hop to the Highlands.
Common Misconceptions About Skye Travel
One thing that trips up travelers is the "Skye Bridge." Older guidebooks might mention a ferry, but since 1995, there's been a bridge connecting the mainland to the island. It’s free. No tolls. No paperwork. You just drive across.
Another big one: thinking you can "do" Skye in a day trip from Edinburgh.
I see this all the time. People fly into EDI, realize it’s a 5-hour drive, try to do it anyway, spend 10 hours in a car, see the Old Man of Storr through a rainy windshield, and drive back. That’s not a vacation; that’s a commute from hell. If you’re flying in, plan to stay at least three nights.
Your Actionable Checklist for Flying to Skye
If you want to do this right, follow these steps in order. Don't skip the car rental part—it's the most common mistake.
- Check Inverness (INV) first. Use a search engine to compare the "London to Inverness" leg separately from your international flight; sometimes it's cheaper to book them as two "one-ways" rather than a single ticket.
- Book a "Hires" (Rental) Car immediately. Make sure the pickup is at the airport, not downtown, or you'll be paying £30 for a taxi just to get to your car.
- Download "What3Words." Many B&Bs on Skye don't have traditional street addresses. They'll give you a three-word code to find their driveway in the middle of a moor.
- Pack your waterproofs in your carry-on. If your checked bag gets lost (it happens), you don't want to be stuck in Portree in a cotton hoodie when the horizontal rain starts.
- Look for the "Sleeper" option. If the flights are too expensive, look at the Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Inverness. You go to sleep in Euston and wake up in the Highlands. It’s basically a flight that takes 8 hours and has a bed.
The Isle of Skye is rugged, remote, and rewards the people who plan for its quirks. Flying there isn't about finding a direct route; it's about choosing the right gateway and embracing the journey through the glens.
Once you’ve sorted your transport, your next move is to nail down your base of operations. Portree is the hub, but if you want real quiet, look into staying in the Sleat Peninsula or up near Dunvegan. Just make sure you check the distance from your chosen airport before you commit to that "dreamy" cottage that’s actually six hours away from the gate.