Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ)

Aberdeen International Airport is one of the few UK airports that still offers a designated smoking facility after security, making it a notable exception among Scottish airports. The key fact: there is a paid airside smoking shelter near Gate 5, accessible for a £2 fee (card or contactless payment only, no cash accepted). Vaping is permitted in the same airside shelter.

Before Security

Landside smoking is available in two spots:

• Outdoor shelters directly outside the main terminal building on the forecourt. These are free to use and accessible to anyone, including meeters and greeters, arriving passengers, and those yet to check in.

• Granite City Beer Garden, a pub/bar facility located before security. You can smoke in this outdoor beer garden area, though it is landside only.

Both options are straightforward and free of charge.

After Security

The airside smoking shelter is located adjacent to the main departure lounge, near Gate 5. It operates as a secured, enclosed shelter with a card-payment entry system. The fee is £2 (sources from 2022-2023 cited £1; the official airport website now states £2, so use that figure). Payment is by card or phone only. A help button is available if you have trouble with the payment system, though traveler reports suggest it is not always answered promptly. The door operates as an airlock: the outer door closes behind you before the inner door to the balcony opens.

Vaping is permitted in this same airside shelter. Smoking or vaping anywhere else in the airside departure area is strictly prohibited.

Vaping Rules

Vaping is treated the same as cigarette smoking at ABZ. You may vape in the outdoor landside shelters before security and in the paid airside shelter near Gate 5 after security. Vaping inside the terminal building, including in the departure lounge, is not permitted under Scottish law.

Fines and Scottish Law

Scotland's smoking ban covers all enclosed public spaces. Smoking anywhere inside the terminal building, or airside outside the designated shelter, carries a fixed penalty fine of £50. The airport enforces this actively.

Transit and Layovers

If you have a connecting flight and want to smoke, the airside shelter near Gate 5 is your only realistic option without exiting the secure zone. Given that re-clearing security takes time, the paid airside shelter is worth the £2 for anyone on a tight connection.

Bottom Line

ABZ is smoker-friendly by UK standards: you have a free outdoor option before security and a paid (£2, card only) enclosed shelter airside near Gate 5. Just make sure you have a card or contactless payment ready, as cash is not accepted at the airside facility.