On 17 September 2009 the rail link was cancelled as part of public spending cuts. In 2014, proposals were in place to resurrect the project dependent on the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum. In October 2016, plans were resurrected to build a railway link to Glasgow Airport.

Glasgow Airport is one of the few major UK airports without a direct rail link, a situation primarily resulting from decades of political debate and funding cuts. In 2009, the ambitious Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project was officially cancelled by the Scottish Government due to significant public spending pressures following the global financial crisis. While the airport is only about eight miles from Glasgow Central station, travelers must currently rely on the "Glasgow Airport Express" bus service or taxis. Various alternative proposals, including a "tram-train" system and a light rail link, have been discussed through 2026, but concerns over costs and the disruption to existing rail paths have prevented a shovel-ready project from moving forward. For now, the Paisley Gilmour Street station remains the closest rail point, requiring a short bus transfer to reach the terminal, keeping Glasgow behind other major UK hubs like Edinburgh or Manchester in terms of seamless rail integration.