Airports In Barcelona: A Comprehensive Guide To Spain's Gateways

Barcelona, Spain is served by three airports: Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, Girona Airport, and Reus Airport. Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, also known as Barcelona-El Prat Airport or BCN Airport, is the only airport in Barcelona. It is located 13 to 15 kilometres from the city centre and is the second-largest and second-busiest airport in Spain. Girona and Reus Airports are approximately 120 kilometres outside Barcelona but offer access to the city via transfer services.

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport

There is only one airport in Barcelona, called the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, which is located 15km (9.3 miles) southwest of the city centre. It is also known as Barcelona-El Prat Airport, El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto, or BCN Airport. The airport is the second-largest and second-busiest in Spain, and the busiest international airport in Catalonia. It is a hub for Level and Vueling, and a focus city for Iberia, EasyJet, Air Europa, and Ryanair.

The airport has two terminals, T1 and T2, with 268 check-in counters and 64 boarding gates combined. T2 is the sum of the previous Terminals A, B, and C, which are now known as Terminals 2A, 2B, and 2C. T1 covers 545,000 square metres and handles 70% of the airport's flights. The airport has three runways, two of which are parallel and one is a cross runway.

The airport has expanded significantly over the years, with a plan for expansion, "Plan Barcelona", completed in 2009, adding a third terminal and an additional runway. Further expansion was planned with a new satellite terminal to increase capacity to 70 million passengers annually.

Reus International Airport

The airport has a range of facilities to accommodate travellers, including currency exchange, car rental offices, duty-free shopping, ATMs, meeting rooms, and Wi-Fi connection. There is also a selection of restaurants and cafés available. Nearby hotels such as La Boella, Hotel NH Ciutat de Reus, Mas Passamaner, and Hotel Sercotel Reus Park provide convenient accommodation options for passengers.

When travelling to Barcelona from Reus International Airport, it is important to plan ahead as there is no direct coach service. Passengers need to take a bus to Reus city centre and then transfer to a coach to Barcelona. For late-night arrivals, it is crucial to check the bus schedule to ensure transportation is available, as an alternative option may be required, such as a taxi or staying overnight in Reus centre.

Girona Airport

There are three airports in Barcelona, Spain, with transfer services to the city centre: El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto (also known as Barcelona-El Prat Airport), Girona Airport, and Reus Airport.

In 1993, the airport served only 275,000 passengers, but in the six years from 2002 to 2008, passenger numbers increased by nearly ten times to 5.5 million, largely due to Ryanair choosing Girona as one of its European hubs. However, in 2012, passenger numbers decreased to 2.8 million, and in 2014, the airport served less than 2.2 million passengers.

El Remolar Airfield

The airfield's history is closely tied to the development of aviation in Barcelona. In 1927, it commenced commercial air service, marking the beginning of scheduled flights to and from the city. Iberia's inaugural route to Madrid Cuatro Vientos Airport was among the early operations at El Remolar. The airfield played a significant role in the growth of aviation in the region, but it soon reached its limits, prompting the relocation to El Prat, which offered more room for expansion.

El Prat, also known as Barcelona–El Prat Airport or Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, is now the primary airport serving Barcelona. It is located 13 to 15 kilometres from the city centre and is the second-largest and second-busiest airport in Spain. El Prat has undergone significant transformations and expansions over the years, including the addition of new terminals and runways to accommodate increasing air traffic.

El Prat has three runways in service: two parallel runways, 06L/24R and 06R/24L, and a cross runway, 02/20. The airport has a two-storey terminal building with ground-floor check-in desks and boarding gates for international, domestic, and regional flights. It offers various facilities and services, including shops, duty-free, VIP services, car hire, and restaurants.

In addition to El Prat, there are two other airports nearby Barcelona: Girona and Reus. These airports are located approximately 120 kilometres outside the city and offer access to Barcelona through transfer services. They are popular among tourists due to the availability of low-cost airline options.

Facilities at Barcelona's airports

There is only one airport in Barcelona, called El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto, or Barcelona-El Prat Airport. However, there are two other airports nearby: Girona and Reus. All three airports offer a range of facilities for travellers.

Facilities at Barcelona-El Prat Airport

Barcelona-El Prat Airport is the second-largest airport in Spain and the first in the Mediterranean and Catalonia. It features two terminals, with a total of more than 20,000 parking spaces. The airport offers VIP lounges, conference facilities, internet work areas, restaurants, entertainment, fitness rooms, beds, showers, and bathrooms. There are also car rental desks, banks, tour operator desks, cash machines, and a post office. For families travelling with children, there are several playgrounds in the boarding areas and designated changing facilities for babies throughout the terminal buildings.

Facilities at Girona Airport

Girona Airport is located approximately 120 km outside of Barcelona. To get to the city centre of Girona from the airport, you need to take a short bus ride, and from there, you can catch another bus or a train to Barcelona. There are also coaches that run directly from the airport to Barcelona's city centre, scheduled to coincide with Ryanair flights.

Facilities at Reus Airport

Reus Airport is the furthest of the three airports from Barcelona, located about 120 km south of the city. It is a popular choice for those taking beach holidays on the Catalonian coast. Unlike Girona Airport, there is no direct coach service from Reus Airport to Barcelona's city centre. Travellers need to take a bus to Reus city centre and then take a coach from there. Reus International Airport has a range of facilities, including currency exchange, car rental offices, duty-free shops, ATMs, meeting rooms, and restaurants.

Frequently asked questions