Exploring Bilbao Airport: Efficient Access With Multiple Gates

Bilbao Airport, located 9km north of Bilbao in the municipality of Loiu, is served by a single passenger terminal. The terminal, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is known as 'La Paloma' (The Dove) due to its distinctive shape. There are 14 boarding gates in total, with 6 of these located on the upper floors and accessible via telescopic walkways, and the remaining 8 on the two floors below, with level 1 connecting directly to the parking platform.

Bilbao Airport has 14 boarding gates

Bilbao Airport, located 9km (5.6 miles) north of Bilbao in the municipality of Loiu, is served by a single passenger terminal. This terminal, designed by the renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is known as "La Paloma" (The Dove) due to its distinctive shape. The terminal opened in 2000 and is considered one of the 10 most beautiful airport terminals globally.

The terminal building consists of four floors (levels 0, 1, 2, and 3) and houses both domestic and international flights. The ground floor is dedicated to arrivals, while the first floor accommodates check-in desks and the sole security checkpoint. The upper floor is for departures, including check-in counters and gates.

The boarding area, located on Level 3, provides access to 14 boarding gates distributed across three levels (Levels 3, 2, and 1). On the upper floors, passengers reach the aircraft via six jet bridges, while the doors on Level 1 directly connect to the parking platform. A lift is available for passengers with reduced mobility.

The 14 boarding gates are identified as follows:

• Gates 1R and 6R on Level 3
• Gates A11, A12, and A13 on Level 2
• Gates B14, B15, and B16 on Level 2
• Gates C21, C22, C23, and C24 on Level 1
• Gates D31, D32, D33, and D34 on Level 1

They are located across three levels

Bilbao Airport has 14 boarding gates located across three levels. The boarding area is accessed on the third level, after passing through security. On the upper floors, access to the aircraft is via six jet bridges, while the doors on the first level connect directly to the parking platform. A lift is available for people with reduced mobility. Depending on your destination, you may need to go through a documentation check before boarding.

The gates located on the third level are 1R and 6R. The second level is called the 'entresuelo' or mezzanine and houses gates A11, A12, A13, B14, B15, and B16. The first level contains gates C21, C22, C23, C24, D31, D32, D33, and D34.

The terminal building, designed by Santiago Calatrava, consists of four floors (levels 0 to 3) and includes both domestic and international flights. The single terminal is known for its sleek and spacious design, nicknamed "La Paloma" ("The Dove") due to its distinctive shape. The upper floor is for departures, with check-in counters and gates, while the lower floor is for arrivals.

The ground floor is for arrivals, with a baggage claim area, passport control, customs, and an arrivals lobby. The first floor contains the check-in desks and the only security checkpoint. The transit area is shared by all flights, and passport control for non-Schengen flights is located near gate B15.

Gate names begin with letters or numbers

Bilbao Airport has 14 boarding gates in total, distributed across three levels (level 3, level 2, and level 1). The gate names follow a clear pattern, with each gate named by combining a letter from A to D with a number from 11 to 34. This results in gate names that begin with letters or numbers, as shown below:

Level 3

• Gate 1R
• Gate 6R

Level 2

• Gate A11
• Gate A12
• Gate A13
• Gate B14
• Gate B15
• Gate B16

Level 1

• Gate C21
• Gate C22
• Gate C23
• Gate C24
• Gate D31
• Gate D32
• Gate D33
• Gate D34

The airport's single passenger terminal, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is known as "La Paloma" (The Dove) due to its distinctive shape. The terminal building has four levels, with the upper floor dedicated to departures and the lower floor for arrivals. The boarding area on Level 3 offers various amenities to enhance passengers' wait, including shops, cafes, restaurants, duty-free shopping, a VIP room, and internet access.

Gates are accessed via walkways or parking platform

Bilbao Airport has 14 boarding gates in total, spread across three levels. The boarding area is located on Level 3, which can be accessed by passengers after they have completed the security check on the same floor. This area is equipped with various amenities, such as shops, cafes, restaurants, duty-free, a VIP room, toilets, and internet access, to ensure that passengers have a pleasant wait before their flights.

The gates on the upper floors, specifically Levels 2 and 3, can be reached via six telescopic walkways or jet bridges. These levels are designated for passengers travelling on domestic and international flights. It is important to note that access to the aircraft on these levels is allowed only for passengers who have already checked in and obtained their boarding passes.

For passengers travelling to non-Schengen countries, additional documentation verification may be required before boarding. This typically includes presenting a passport, although some countries may also require a visa, vaccination certificate, or a passport valid for a specified period after arrival. It is always advisable to check with your airline for the specific requirements of your destination.

On Level 1, the boarding gates connect directly to the parking platform, providing convenient access for passengers who need to reach their vehicles. This level also includes the baggage claim hall, with seven baggage carousels to facilitate a smooth luggage retrieval process for arriving passengers.

The airport has one terminal

Bilbao Airport has a single passenger terminal that serves both national and international flights. The terminal is known as "La Paloma" due to its unique design, which resembles a dove in flight. Designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the terminal opened in 2000 and is considered one of the world's 10 most beautiful airport terminals.

The terminal building consists of four floors: level 0, level 1, level 2, and level 3. Level 0, located in the lobby of the terminal parking building, offers services such as car rental counters, a special needs meeting point, a vending machine, and access to parking. The ground floor, level 1, is dedicated to arrivals, with a baggage claim hall, passport control, customs, and the arrivals lobby. Level 2, also known as the mezzanine, provides access to the VIP lounge, defibrillators, boarding gates, and various other amenities. The upper floor, level 3, is for departures and includes check-in counters, security checkpoints, and gates.

The terminal is spacious and well-laid-out, with short distances between the terminal entrance and the aircraft. The check-in area is located on level 3, with 36 check-in counters available. After checking in, passengers proceed to the security control on the same floor before accessing the boarding area. The boarding area offers a range of services to enhance the passenger's wait, including shops, cafes, restaurants, duty-free shopping, a VIP room, and internet access.

The boarding area provides access to 14 gates located across three levels. Level 3 has gates 1R and 6R, while level 2 features gates A11, A12, A13, B14, B15, and B16. Gates C21, C22, C23, C24, D31, D32, D33, and D34 can be found on level 1. These gates cater to both domestic and international flights, providing efficient and convenient access to aircraft for passengers.

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