Basque Country's Airport: Does It Exist?

The Basque Country has several airports, with the largest being Bilbao Airport (BIO). San Sebastián Airport (EAS) is another important airport in the region, located in the town of Hondarribia, about 22 km from San Sebastián. Other nearby airports include Vitoria Airport (VIT), Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (BIQ), and Santander Airport (SDR). The availability of different airports provides convenient travel options for those visiting the Basque Country.

Bilbao Airport

The airport was inaugurated in 1999, with a new terminal opening in 2000, both designed by Santiago Calatrava. The terminal has a sleek design, with two symmetrical "wings" and a sharp tip at its centre, resembling a dove beginning its flight. This has earned the building the nickname of La Paloma ("The Dove"). The terminal has two floors, with the upper floor for departures and the lower for arrivals. The airport has a total capacity of four million passengers a year and 3,000 passengers at rush hour.

There are several ways to get to and from Bilbao Airport. By car, there is a car park for 3,000 vehicles. By bus, there are several lines that connect Bilbao Airport with Bilbao city centre and the city bus station. There are also bus lines that connect the airport with other towns, including Larrabetzu, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and San Sebastián.

San Sebastián Airport

The airport is accessible by bus from San Sebastián, with the Ekialdebus line E21 connecting the city centre (Gipuzkoa square) and Hondarribia, stopping at the airport. This bus departs every 45 minutes. Another bus line, E30, connects the San Sebastián bus station (Federico Garcia Lorca Street) to the airport during the summer months, with 11 buses departing daily.

Several other bus lines connect the airport to nearby towns such as Hondarribia, Errenteria, Pasaia, Irun, and Amara. These bus routes provide transportation to and from the airport, with some operating on weekends, public holidays, and select nights throughout the year.

The future of San Sebastián Airport is uncertain due to economic challenges and opposition to plans for expanding the runway to accommodate larger aircraft.

Vitoria Airport

The airport initially struggled to maintain regular flights due to competition from the nearby Bilbao Airport, which is closer to major population centres. However, in 2006, Ryanair began daily flights from London Stansted Airport, and a year later, it added flights from Dublin Airport. In 2016, Ryanair announced its return to Vitoria, offering year-round services to Bergamo and Tenerife. In 2017, the airline added twice-weekly flights to Cologne/Bonn and Seville, aiming to reach 115,000 passengers per year.

In 2019, Vitoria Airport served 174,000 passengers, operated 10,800 flights, and processed 64,500 tons of cargo. The airport hit a new milestone in 2022, serving 235,000 passengers, the highest number since 1993, and handling 73,600 tons of cargo, the most in its history. As of 2023, Vitoria Airport ranks fourth in Spain for cargo traffic.

Biarritz Airport

The airport is accessible by bus, with three bus routes (C, 14, and 48) connecting it to nearby towns and cities such as Biarritz, Bayonne, Anglet, Bidart, Hendaye, Irun, San Sebastian, Pamplona, and Bilbao. Taxis are also available at the airport for passengers travelling to their destinations.

Santander Airport

The history of Santander Airport can be traced back to the mid-20th century. Between 1947 and 1952, prisoners of the Spanish Civil War constructed a small airfield on the site, which opened in 1953. This airfield replaced the old Santander airport in La Albericia, which had been receiving commercial flights since 1949. The current airport, built on land reclaimed from the Bay of Santander, commenced operations in 1977 after undergoing significant expansion and modernisation.

The airport has a range of facilities to accommodate passengers. As of 2023, it features eight check-in desks, three baggage carousels in the arrivals lounge, and seven boarding gates. The airport is equipped to handle both domestic and international flights, including those from outside the Schengen zone.

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