Group airport transfers in Scotland by minibus and coach
Ritaat Coaches runs group airport transfers with a driver from Glasgow, Scotland, by minibus or coach. Glasgow Airport is about 10 miles by road from the city centre, Glasgow Prestwick about 32 miles and Edinburgh Airport about 40 miles. Send your flight times, group size and number of cases, and we reply with a written quote.
This is the hub for airport work. It compares the airports; each airport page holds the pick-up detail. For all our group services, see our services.
The three airports compared
| Airport | Road distance from Glasgow city centre | Drive time (car, no traffic) | Where a coach or minibus stops | Our page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow (GLA), Paisley | about 10 miles | about 17 minutes | Zone C of the pick-up and drop-off area, which the airport says suits coaches and minibuses [verify on glasgowairport.com] | Glasgow Airport minibus transfers |
| Glasgow Prestwick (PIK), Ayrshire | about 32 miles | about 41 minutes | Car Park 2, upper level. Coaches and minibuses with more than 12 seats must use it; Car Park 1 has a 2.2 m height limit | This page (below) |
| Edinburgh (EDI) | about 40 miles | about 53 minutes | [verify: coach and minibus meeting point at Edinburgh Airport] | This page (below), and Glasgow to Edinburgh group travel |
A coach is slower than a car, and the M8 and M74 are slow at rush hour, so pick-up times include a buffer.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport for groups
Prestwick’s own parking page sets clear rules for group vehicles:
- All coaches, minibuses with more than 12 seats and minibuses with trailers that drop off or pick up passengers must use Car Park 2, next to the terminal, about a two-minute walk.
- The coach park is on the upper level of Car Park 2, near the exit barriers. The maximum stay is 2 hours.
- The airport lists a fee of £30 on arrival, or £15 if pre-booked at least a day ahead.
For your group this means the driver books the bay in advance and meets you at the terminal; the bay fee is charged at cost and shown on the quote. Prestwick suits Ayrshire golf groups: Royal Troon and Turnberry are both closer to PIK than to Glasgow. See golf transfers.
Edinburgh Airport for groups from Glasgow
Edinburgh Airport is about 40 miles from Glasgow city centre on the M8, roughly 53 minutes by car without traffic. Groups from Glasgow use it when their airline or package flies from Edinburgh rather than Glasgow, which is common for some long-haul connections. We have not found Edinburgh Airport’s own published rules for private coaches, so the driver confirms the meeting point before the day [verify: EDI coach meeting point on edinburghairport.com before publishing any location].
Which vehicle for your group and luggage
Airport groups fill a vehicle with luggage before they fill it with people, so we size by both.
| Group | Usual choice | Who supplies it |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 16 passengers, about 10 to 15 large cases | Mercedes Sprinter minibus with driver | Our own vehicle |
| Larger groups, or bulky luggage (golf bags, ski bags, pilgrim luggage) | Full-size coach with under-floor lockers | Our own Mercedes Tourismo (53 seats) or Volvo B8R (38 seats) |
| More passengers than our own vehicles carry, or several flights at once | Extra coaches or minibuses | A partner operator |
Cases per vehicle: the Sprinter takes about 10 to 15 large suitcases behind the rear seats, the Volvo B8R 35 to 40, and the Tourismo about 49 large suitcases plus 49 hand-luggage items. If you are unsure, read minibus or coach: what size do I need, or tell us the number of cases and we will size it.
How a transfer works, in three lines
- Send flight numbers, dates, addresses, passenger count and cases.
- We reply with a written quote naming the vehicle. The driver waits 15 minutes past the booked time at no charge.
- The driver meets the group at the agreed point. Step-by-step detail for Glasgow is on the Glasgow Airport page.
Groups we plan airport runs for
- Umrah and Hajj groups leaving from a mosque: Umrah and Hajj group transfers.
- Cruise passengers flying in for a Greenock sailing: Greenock cruise transfers.
- Golf groups with bags: golf transfers.
- Conference delegates heading to the SEC: corporate coach hire.
- Families and teams arriving together: minibus hire in Glasgow or coach hire in Glasgow.
We cover the whole UK, so longer runs, for example to Manchester, Newcastle or London airports, are quoted on request. We also carry visiting international tour groups from the airport to their hotel.
What it costs
Three things move an airport price more than anything else:
- Which airport. Prestwick and Edinburgh are three to four times the distance of Glasgow Airport, and the vehicle has to come back.
- Airport charges. Prestwick lists £15 to £30 per coach visit; Glasgow charges vehicles in its pick-up area [verify current charge].
- Waiting. The driver waits 15 minutes past the booked time at no charge; after that, waiting may be charged.
Typical price: a 16-seat minibus airport pick-up is from £375. Prices differ by season.
Every quote is in writing and lists what is included: fuel, mileage, the driver, road and bridge tolls, standard parking, waiting time during the hire, bottled water and Wi-Fi. Ferry crossings and coach-park charges at venues that charge coaches are charged at cost and shown on the quote. See the coach hire price guide for published UK benchmarks and how prices are built.
Frequently asked questions
Which airports do you serve for group transfers?
We run group transfers by minibus and coach from Glasgow to Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport. We cover the whole UK, so ask us about longer runs, for example to Manchester or London airports.
Which vehicle do I need for my group and luggage?
Up to 16 passengers fit our Mercedes Sprinter minibus, with room for about 10 to 15 large suitcases. Larger groups, or groups with golf bags or extra cases, need a coach with under-floor lockers. Tell us the number of cases and we will size the vehicle.
Where do coaches pick up at Prestwick Airport?
In Car Park 2, on the upper level near the exit barriers. Prestwick says all coaches and minibuses with more than 12 seats must use Car Park 2, with a maximum stay of 2 hours and a fee of £30, or £15 if pre-booked.
How long does it take from Glasgow to each airport?
From Glasgow city centre, Glasgow Airport is about 10 miles (about 17 minutes by car without traffic), Prestwick about 32 miles (about 41 minutes) and Edinburgh Airport about 40 miles (about 53 minutes). A coach takes longer than a car, so we add a buffer.
How do I get a quote for an airport transfer?
Send the flight numbers, dates, pick-up address, number of passengers and number of cases by WhatsApp, phone or the quote form. We reply with a written quote that names the vehicle and the waiting time included.
Get a quote
Send your flights, group size and cases. We reply within an hour.
Sources (5)
- Glasgow Airport, pick up and drop off (Zone C for coaches and minibuses; £7 for up to 15 minutes, per search summary; re-check by hand, the page blocks automated fetches): https://www.glasgowairport.com/to-and-from/pick-up-and-drop-off/
- Glasgow Prestwick Airport, parking (Car Park 2 for coaches and 12+ seat minibuses, 2.2 m limit in Car Park 1, 2-hour maximum, £30 / £15 pre-booked), fetched 2026-10-25: https://www.glasgowprestwick.com/parking/
- Drive distances and times: OSRM routing engine, car speed, no traffic, run 2026-10-25: https://router.project-osrm.org/
- Companies House, SC827704: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC827704
- GOV.UK, find vehicle operators: https://www.gov.uk/find-vehicle-operators