Festive travellers go sky high

Travellers are heading home or for city breaks

Scottish airports are heading for one of their busiest ever festive weeks.

The British Aiports Authority said about 500,000 people were expected to go through Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow in the days around Christmas.

December 27 is set to be the most popular travel day with Paris, New York, Tenerife, Dublin and Amsterdam among the favourite destinations.

The odds of a white Christmas at home are slim with mild and wet weather on the cards for much of Scotland.

BAA spokesman Malcolm Robertson said: "We won't know the exact figures until January but we think that we will have around half a million flyers over the next week.

"Business is extremely brisk and running very smoothly at all three airports."

Meanwhile, shoppers crowded city centres in a last-minute dash for gifts.

On Wednesday morning, the AA said the M8 and M77 were quiet but the M74 Glasgow to Carlisle route was busy later.