Cheap flights to Kirkwall
For travellers comparing cheap flights to Kirkwall, Kirkwall Airport is the only arrival point, so the pairing with your departure city matters more here than on busier routes, and people often start from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, London or Inverness. Kirkwall draws visitors for Orkney's harbour life, stone circles and island hopping, and seats fill fastest when school holidays, summer weekends or festival dates coincide with narrow weather windows. Book a few weeks ahead, favour midweek departures, and leave extra connection time, since delays here tend to cascade.
Flights to Kirkwall — where from
Airports — Kirkwall
Arrange your onward transfer before you land, because Kirkwall Airport is the city's only airport and ground options can be limited once you arrive. From there, most visitors use a taxi, a local bus or a pre-booked hire car for the run into town, with onward links if Orkney is not your final stop. Depending on connection, you may see Loganair Limited, British Airways, Easyjet, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the other listed carriers, so check what the fare includes before you book. If your flight lands late or in poor weather, confirm the transfer can wait and keep the operator's number to hand.
When to go
Weather dominates Orkney fares: calm summer days bring the clearest runs and the tightest availability, while winter wind and rain make schedules less predictable and can quietly improve your chances of a deal. Spring and autumn sit between those extremes, with fewer crowds and more flexibility on dates. The busiest periods track school holidays, Christmas and the summer festival calendar, so if you need a specific day, book earlier and stay flexible on the time of day.