Exploring Seville Airport: Efficient Access With Multiple Gates

Seville Airport, also known as San Pablo Airport, is located 6 miles east of central Seville, Spain. The airport consists of a single terminal building with 16 boarding gates across two floors. The ground floor houses arrivals and the first floor hosts departures. The airport is quite compact and easy to navigate, but it is getting busier and busier every year. In 2019, a record 7.5 million passengers were served, and the airport is currently undergoing expansion works to help serve up to 10 million passengers per year.

Seville Airport's terminal building

Seville Airport, also known as Sevilla Airport, San Pablo Airport, or Aeropuerto de Sevilla, is located 6 miles east of central Seville, Spain. It is one of the most important aviation hubs in the country and the sixth busiest airport in Spain. The airport is not large compared to other major European hubs, but it has seen an increase in demand due to its location in the capital of Andalusia.

The terminal building at Seville Airport is modern, unique, and technologically advanced for an airport of its size. The design reflects the city's cultural style and tradition, with orange trees, horseshoe arches, and blue-tiled spaces dominating the interior. The terminal is spread over two levels, with arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first floor. The ground floor also houses customs and passport control points, baggage carousels, and access to ground transportation. The first floor has 42 check-in counters, baggage wrapping services, and the security control area. After passing through security, passengers enter the airside zone, where most of the shops, eateries, and amenities are located.

The airport has a total of 19 gates, all situated on the first floor of the terminal. Passengers board their flights either via one of the five boarding bridges or through aircraft buses. The boarding area can be accessed through 15 doors after passing through the security checkpoint.

Seville Airport offers various services and amenities, including cafes, restaurants, retail shops, duty-free options, baggage services, meet-and-greet services, family-friendly facilities, and special assistance for passengers with disabilities. The airport also provides essential travel services such as parking, public transportation, and taxi services.

The airport's gates and boarding bridges

Seville Airport, or Sevilla Airport, is a relatively small aviation hub with just one terminal building. The terminal is split over two floors, with arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first floor. The airport has 19 gates, all located on the first floor, with 15 doors leading to five boarding bridges and aircraft buses. The airport is quite compact and easy to navigate, but it's always good to know what to expect to make your experience as seamless as possible.

The ground floor of the terminal building houses arrivals, with access to ground transportation options outside, including taxi ranks, bus stops, and car rental pick-up areas. Customs and passport control points for travellers from non-Schengen countries are also located on this floor, along with baggage carousels. The terminal's first floor hosts departures, with 42 check-in counters, baggage wrapping services, and the security control area. After passing through security, passengers enter the airside zone, where most shops, eateries, and amenities are located.

The boarding area can be accessed after the security checkpoint. There are 15 doors that provide access to five boarding bridges (telescopic walkways) and boarding points by aircraft buses. Depending on the flight's destination, passengers may need to go through additional documentation control before boarding. The boarding gates are located on floor P1 of the terminal, and passengers must show their documentation to airline personnel before boarding.

Seville Airport offers a range of services and amenities, including cafes, restaurants, retail shops, duty-free options, baggage services, and special assistance for passengers with disabilities. The airport also has two parking options: a short-term car park (P1) and a long-term car park (P2), both within a few minutes' walking distance from the terminal.

The airport's history and renovation

Seville Airport, also known as San Pablo Airport, has undergone several renovations and expansions since its early days as a military airfield in 1914. The airport, located just over 6 miles from the centre of Seville, has seen significant growth in passenger traffic over the years, prompting various development projects to meet the increasing demand.

In 1915, construction began on the aerodrome, and it started to be used for training pilots and observers. Seville Airport welcomed its first civilian passenger flight in 1919, with a service between Seville and Madrid. Over the next few years, the airfield added hangars and workshops, and in 1923, approval was given for the construction of a municipal airport at one end of the runway.

In the late 1920s, Unión Aérea Española established a link between Madrid, Seville, and Lisbon, with flights to the Canary Islands added in 1930. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the airport served as an important arrival point for North African troops supporting Franco's Nationalist forces.

Post-war, in 1945, the airport expanded with the addition of concrete runways, and in 1948, the runway lighting was completed. In 1957, work was carried out on the terminal building and the control tower, and an Instrument Landing System was installed in 1965.

A significant expansion programme was undertaken between 1971 and 1975, which included the renovation of the terminal area and the construction of a new terminal building. The apron was extended, and new access roads to the terminal were developed.

With the city hosting the Seville Expo in 1992, further developments were made. The apron was expanded once more, and a new terminal and control tower were built, with the old terminal repurposed as a cargo terminal. This new terminal was designed with Seville's cultural heritage in mind, featuring orange trees, horseshoe arches, and blue-tiled spaces, reflecting the city's history and cultural style.

To accommodate the growing number of passengers, another expansion programme began in 2019, aiming to increase the airport's capacity to 10 million passengers per year. This involved enlarging the terminal building, renovating old facilities, and reforming the power station to handle future enlargements. These renovations were completed in 2022, and the airport now boasts modern and convenient premises with optimised layouts, making it a passenger-friendly hub.

Services and amenities at the airport

Services and Amenities at Seville Airport

Seville Airport, also known as San Pablo Airport, is a relatively small aviation hub, but it still offers a wide range of services and amenities to passengers. The airport terminal has two levels, with arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first floor.

Ground Floor

On the ground floor, passengers can access the airport's ground transportation, including taxi ranks, bus stops, and car rental pick-up areas. Customs and passport control points for travellers from non-Schengen countries are also located on this floor, along with baggage carousels.

First Floor

The first floor hosts departures, with 42 check-in counters, baggage wrapping services, and a security control area. After passing through security, passengers enter the airside zone, where most of the shops, eateries, and amenities are located.

Eateries

Seville Airport has a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars, including Burger King, El Kiosko, Starbucks, Ritazza, Enrique Tomas, La Barra, Express&Co., Foodies, O’Leary’s, The Garden, Food Market, and ABQ, a Spanish bar.

Shops

The airport offers a range of retail options, including fashion and accessory outlets, duty-free shopping, and convenience stores. Parfois, a women's accessories brand, and Natura, a Spanish brand offering clothes and home goods, are among the shops available.

Other Amenities

Seville Airport provides a range of other amenities to make passengers' journeys more comfortable and convenient. These include:

• Baby-changing facilities
• ATMs
• Vending machines
• Luggage wrapping and trolleys
• Meet and Greet services
• Family-friendly amenities
• Lost and Found offices
• Special assistance for passengers with disabilities
• A smoking area
• Nursing room
• Information desk
• Postal service
• Police and medical assistance

Transport to and from the airport

Seville Airport (SVQ) is located 6 miles east of central Seville, and you can drive there in 10–15 minutes from most parts of the city. The airport is quite compact and easy to navigate. It has a total of 19 gates, all located on the first floor of the terminal, where departures are also located.

The airport is not open 24/7 and is closed during the night, approximately from 1:30 am to 4:30 am. The bus is the only public transport option to get to and from the airport. The EA bus line (Especial Aeropuerto in Spanish) is the only bus line that currently connects Seville Airport with the city of Seville. The service operates every day of the year, from 5:20 am to 1:00 pm (to Seville) and from 4:30 am to 12:05 am (to the airport). The EA line is part of Transportes Urbanos de Sevilla (Tussam) and also stops at Santa Justa train station and Plaza de Armas in the centre of Seville. Tickets start at €4 and can be purchased on board.

You can also get to the airport by taxi (cab). Flat rates start at €22.81 on weekdays. To hail a taxi in Seville, you can call +34 954 580 000, use a taxi app, stop by any of the taxi ranks located throughout the city (look for a blue and white sign reading 'TAXI'), or simply flag one down if you catch one passing by (as long as the green light on top is on to indicate availability).

If you prefer to book your transfer in advance, there are several companies that offer this service, including hoppa. You can also book a private airport transfer or a rental car in advance.

Frequently asked questions