Murcia's Dual Airports: Understanding The Travel Dynamics

Murcia has two airports: the Región de Murcia International Airport (RMU) and the Murcia San Javier Airport. The former, also known as the Corvera Airport Murcia, is the newer airport, having opened in 2019. It is located 25km south of Murcia city centre and is the closest airport to the Costa Calida and the southern Costa Blanca holiday regions. The latter is an older airport that has been serving the region since at least 2006.

Murcia International Airport (RMU) replaced Murcia San Javier Airport in 2019

Murcia International Airport (RMU), also known as Murcia Corvera Airport, replaced Murcia San Javier Airport on 15 January 2019 for all passenger flights into the Murcia region. The new airport is located 25km to the south of Murcia city centre and is the closest airport to the Costa Calida and the southern Costa Blanca holiday regions.

The inauguration of the new airport opened up the Murcia region to an extensive network of international flights and destinations. The airport had been long-awaited, with the initial idea conceived as early as the 1960s. The need for a larger international airport in the region arose due to the limitations of Murcia San Javier Airport, which was also a military base, restricting the expansion of civil aviation services.

The construction of Murcia International Airport faced several delays and controversies. The project was initially proposed in 2002 by the company Aeromur, and construction began in 2008, with an expected completion date of 2010. However, construction halted in 2009 due to financial issues, and the airport did not become operational until 2019, after contractual disputes between the regional government, Aeromur, and the construction firm Sacyr.

The new airport features a single passenger terminal spanning 28,500 to 37,000 square meters and a single runway. It has an initial capacity of 3 million passengers and 23,000 flight movements per year, with the potential to increase to 5 million passengers. The terminal is equipped with nine boarding gates, 25 check-in desks, and four baggage reclaim carousels.

The airport has direct access to the A-30 highway between Murcia and Cartagena and is served by several public bus routes. It is also conveniently located a few kilometres from the city, making it easily accessible for travellers.

Murcia San Javier Airport is limited for increased civil aviation services

Murcia San Javier Airport is located 26 miles southeast of Murcia, Spain. It is a military air base and former civilian passenger airport owned by the Spanish Air and Space Force. The airport was replaced by the new Región de Murcia International Airport (also known as Corvera Airport Murcia or Murcia International Airport) on January 15, 2019, due to several limitations for increased civil aviation services.

Firstly, Murcia San Javier Airport is limited for increased civil aviation services because it also serves as a military base. This dual-use results in shared flight times, air space, and ground space with military operations, restricting the number of civilian flights that can operate concurrently. With the arrival of several low-cost airlines, the airport experienced a significant increase in passenger traffic. From 1995 to 2012, passenger numbers jumped from 88,608 to 1,181,490, highlighting the need for expanded capacity.

Secondly, the physical infrastructure of Murcia San Javier Airport posed limitations. As a relatively small and new airport, it had limited facilities for passengers. The size of the airport also impacted the availability and variety of eating options, with only a few cafes and restaurants available. This limited infrastructure could have constrained the airport's ability to accommodate increased civil aviation services and handle larger passenger volumes.

Additionally, the airport's location played a role in its limitations. Being situated 26 miles southeast of Murcia meant that it was not as conveniently located as the new Región de Murcia International Airport, which is closer to the city of Murcia. The new airport's proximity to the city made it a more attractive option for travellers and airlines, potentially drawing a larger volume of civil aviation services away from Murcia San Javier Airport.

Moreover, the opening of the Paramount Theme Park in 2015 was expected to bring a massive increase in tourist volume to the airport. This projected surge in tourism further emphasised the need for a larger facility with expanded capacity. The existing Murcia San Javier Airport would have struggled to accommodate the potential new demands and increased civil aviation services.

In summary, Murcia San Javier Airport faced limitations for increased civil aviation services due to its dual-use as a military base, limited infrastructure, and less convenient location. These factors, coupled with the anticipated increase in tourism, made it essential to develop a larger international airport in the Murcia region. The new Región de Murcia International Airport was designed to address these limitations and cater to the growing demands of civil aviation in the region.

Corvera Airport Murcia has a single passenger terminal and one 5-23 runway

Corvera Airport Murcia (RMU) is the closest airport to the Costa Calida and the southern Costa Blanca holiday regions. It is located 25km to the south of Murcia city centre. The airport has been open and operational since 15 January 2019, when it replaced Murcia San Javier Airport for all passenger flights into the Murcia region.

Corvera Airport Murcia has a single passenger terminal, covering 37,000 square metres. The terminal is equipped with nine boarding gates, 25 check-in desks, and four baggage reclaim carousels. The ground floor of the terminal (Floor 0) includes Arrivals and Check-In desks, while the first floor (Floor 1) includes Passport Control, Duty-Free Shopping, and Boarding. The airport also has direct access to the A-30 highway between Murcia and Cartagena, and several public bus routes connect the airport to surrounding areas.

In addition to the single passenger terminal, Corvera Airport Murcia also has one 5-23 runway, measuring 3,000 x 45 metres. The airport has a capacity of three million passengers and 23,000 flight movements per year, with the potential to boost this capacity to five million passengers.

The new airport has been well-received by industry representatives

Murcia in Spain has two airports: the new Región de Murcia International Airport (also known as Corvera Airport Murcia or Murcia International Airport) and the older Murcia San Javier Airport. The new airport opened on 15 January 2019, replacing Murcia San Javier for all passenger flights to the region.

The new airport facilities have indeed been well-received by industry representatives. Ian Doubtfire, managing director of Jet2, visited the airport before its inauguration and commented that he was "very impressed with the user-friendly airport facilities that have been built in Corvera and [thought it would] be a very efficient airport when operational."

The new airport is located 25km to the south of Murcia city centre and is the closest airport to the Costa Cálida and the southern Costa Blanca holiday regions. It comprises a single passenger terminal (37,000 square metres) and one 5-23 runway (3,000 x 45 metres), with capacity for three million passengers and 23,000 flight movements a year. This capacity can be boosted to five million passengers. The terminal is equipped with nine boarding gates, 25 check-in desks, and four baggage reclaim carousels.

The airport has direct access to the A-30 highway between Murcia and Cartagena, and there are several public bus routes connecting the airport to its surrounding areas. Ten leading airlines have operated flights to and from the airport since its inauguration, including EasyJet, Ryanair, and Volotea. Destinations served include London, Manchester, Prague, and Barcelona.

The new airport features duty-free stores, outlets of WH Smith, and food and drink options such as Costa Coffee and Subway. The car park is conveniently located a few metres from the terminal, offering special prices for long stays when booking online.

Murcia San Javier Airport has received mixed reviews

On the positive side, many reviewers have commented on the airport's efficiency, with smooth and quick processes for arrival, departure, and baggage reclaim. One reviewer noted that they were "in and out in under half an hour", while another mentioned that the facilities had progressed over the years, with proper parking and security in place. The airport's small size has also been highlighted as a benefit, allowing for a short walk from arrivals to the gate. The ground staff and customs officers have also been described as pleasant and polite, contributing to a positive overall experience.

However, there have been several negative reviews criticising the airport's organisation and chaos. One reviewer mentioned incorrect gate information and a lack of communication, leading to confusion and frustration. Another common complaint is the limited facilities, including a small duty-free shop and a lack of dining options. The airport's early closing time, at 9 pm or 11 pm, has also been mentioned as a drawback, especially for delayed flights. The boarding process has been described as chaotic, with priority boarding passengers having to push through crowds due to the lack of separate gate lounges.

The airport's use by the military has also been a point of contention, with civilian flights sometimes delayed due to shared flight times and air and ground space. However, despite the mixed reviews, some travellers still prefer Murcia San Javier Airport over larger alternatives like Alicante or Gatwick.

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