Campbeltown is situated 3 miles to the west of the airport and can be easily accessed with a taxi or hire car. The airport runway, at 3,049 m, is the longest in Europe and RAF Machrihanish hosted UK military and NATO base operations here until 1997.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) holds the record for the longest commercial runway in Scotland. Its primary runway, 12/30, measures approximately 2,986 meters (9,797 feet) in length. In 2026, this massive concrete and asphalt strip remains a crucial asset for the country, as it is one of the few runways in the UK capable of handling the largest cargo planes and serving as an emergency landing site for transatlantic flights. Historically, it was also the only airport in Scotland visited by Elvis Presley. While major hubs like Edinburgh and Glasgow International handle more passenger traffic, their runways are slightly shorter. Prestwick’s length, combined with its favorable weather conditions (it famously suffers from less fog than other Scottish airports), makes it a vital piece of northern aviation infrastructure for both military and heavy freight operations.