Aberdeen Airport does not operate 24 hours. It typically closes after the last scheduled arrival, which is usually between 11 PM and midnight. If your flight is delayed and arrives late, the airport stays open to process passengers, but facilities wind down quickly.
What is still running after 11 PM
Stagecoach Jet 727 bus: The last departure is around 00:15. If your flight lands after 23:30 and you still need to clear baggage reclaim, you will likely miss it. There is no night bus alternative.
Taxi rank: Taxis are available until the last flight arrives, but the number of vehicles drops significantly after midnight. On a night with only one late arrival, there may be just a handful of cabs. If a full plane empties out, you could face a wait of 20-30 minutes for the next available taxi.
Uber: Availability in Aberdeen after midnight is unreliable. You might get lucky, or you might wait 15-20 minutes with no driver accepting. Do not rely on this as your only plan.
Pre-booked transfer: This is the most dependable option for late arrivals. Your driver monitors your flight and waits regardless of delays. Fixed price, no meter running, and no risk of finding an empty taxi rank.
Late night pricing
| Option | How it is priced late at night | Availability after midnight |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi from rank | Metered on the council's higher late-night tariff | Limited, depends on flight schedule |
| Uber | Dynamic, and surge is likelier at this hour | Unreliable |
| Pre-booked transfer | Fixed when you book, whatever time you land | Guaranteed |
Fixed-price private transfer
ABZ Aberdeen City Center
From€68for 2 passengers
Aberdeen City Council's fare scale switches to a higher tariff late at night and on Sundays and public holidays, so the same journey costs more than it would by day. The council publishes the current scale and the hours each tariff covers — check it rather than budgeting from a figure quoted elsewhere.
If you would rather stay near the airport
Dyce, the village next to the airport, has several hotels within a 5-minute taxi ride:
- DoubleTree by Hilton Aberdeen City Centre (Dyce location) — modern, reliable
- Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport — budget-friendly, clean
- Speedbird Inn — basic, right next to the terminal
- Moxy Aberdeen Airport — newer, good value
Some of these hotels offer free shuttle services for guests, but availability varies and you often need to call on arrival. Check with your hotel before relying on this.
A taxi from the terminal to any Dyce hotel is a short metered hop, so even on the night tariff it is a minor expense next to the fare into the city.
Planning ahead for late arrivals
If your inbound flight is the last of the day — particularly from London Heathrow, Amsterdam, or Stavanger — delays are common. These routes often involve evening connections and busy airports. Book a transfer in advance, or at minimum have a local taxi company number saved on your phone. Useful companies include ComCab Aberdeen and Rainbow City Taxis, both of which take phone bookings.
The arrivals hall has free WiFi, so you can arrange transport even if you do not have a UK SIM. But the hall empties fast after the last flight, and standing alone in a quiet terminal at midnight is not the best time to be figuring out your options.