Airports In Portugal: A Comprehensive Guide

Portugal is served by several international airports that cater to both domestic and international flights. The country's airports are known for handling a large number of tourists. Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, located about 7 km from the city, is the main international airport of Portugal and handles the majority of routes from outside of Europe. Other airports in Portugal include Porto Airport, Faro Airport, Beja Airport, and Funchal Madeira Airport.

Lisbon Airport (LIS) is the main international airport of Portugal

Lisbon Airport (LIS), also known as Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport or Portela Airport, is the main international airport of Portugal. It is located 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) north of the capital, Lisbon, in the parish of Portela in the Loures Municipality. Lisbon Airport is one of the largest airports in Southern Europe, with two runways and two terminals. The airport is the 12th largest in Europe for passengers, handling more than 33 million travellers in 2023 and over 190,000 tonnes of cargo. It is the busiest single-runway airport in mainland Europe.

The airport is easily accessible by public transport, with the red metro line connecting it to the city centre and the main train station, 'Oriente'. A single metro ticket costs €1.80 and is charged to a reusable 'Navegante' card, which costs €0.50 for the initial purchase. For those travelling to Cascais or Sintra, a transfer may be preferable, although good train services are available.

Lisbon Airport has a range of facilities for both leisure and business travellers, including shops, restaurants, and service counters. Terminal 1 is the larger of the two terminals, with more than 100 check-in desks and 29 gates for departures worldwide. It is used by most airlines, including TAP Air Portugal, its Star Alliance partners, Oneworld, and easyJet. Terminal 2, located away from Terminal 1 on the southern border of the airport, is smaller and exclusively serves low-cost carriers like Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Transavia.

The airport has undergone several improvements and expansions over the years, including the construction of Terminal 2, lighting and baggage claim refurbishment, new cargo facilities, and fuel storage. In 2019, the Portuguese government announced a €1.1 billion plan to expand the airport further, including the potential addition of a third terminal to accommodate the high demand for international travel.

Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, or Porto Airport, is the closest airport to Porto

Portugal has several airports, including Lisbon Airport, Porto Airport, and Faro Airport. Lisbon Airport is the country's primary international airport, handling the majority of routes from outside Europe. It is located within the city limits and is easily accessible by metro.

Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, or Porto Airport

Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, also known as Porto Airport, is an international airport located near Porto, Portugal. It is the closest airport to Porto, situated 11-12 kilometres northwest of the Clérigos Tower in the city centre. The airport is run by ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal and is the second busiest in the country, after Lisbon Airport. It serves as a base for airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair, and TAP Air Portugal.

The airport is easily accessible by road, with the A41 and A28 motorways, as well as the EN13 highway, leading to drop-off and pick-up areas and various parking options. The airport can also be reached via the A4 motorway using the VRI access way. Public transportation options include STCP buses, which connect the airport to the city, and an overnight bus service operating from Porto city centre to the airport. Additionally, there is a bus service to and from Vigo, Spain, with two weekday trips and one weekend trip per day.

The airport has a rich history, initially opening in 1945 as Pedras Rubras Airport, named after the locality where it is located. In 1990, it was renamed after former Portuguese Prime Minister Francisco de Sá Carneiro, who tragically died in a plane crash while travelling to this airport in 1980. The airport reached a significant milestone in 2017, surpassing ten million passengers in a year for the first time.

Faro Airport (FAO) serves southern Portugal

Portugal has several airports spread across its mainland and islands. Lisbon Airport (LIS) is the country's main international airport, handling most routes from outside Europe.

Faro Airport is similar in size to Porto Airport, but passenger numbers fluctuate massively during the year, with fewer travellers during the winter and vast numbers in summer (June to September). The airport operates both international and domestic flights, mainly catering to tourists. In 2008, Faro Airport handled 5,447,200 passengers and recorded 39,789 aircraft movements. By 2017, the airport had surpassed 8 million passengers annually, and in 2024, nearly 10 million passengers used the facility. As of 2019, the airport is capable of handling nine million passengers a year.

Faro Airport has undergone several expansion and improvement projects over the years. Between 2010 and 2013, the airport underwent extensive renovations to its terminal, runway, and infrastructure. The airport currently has 22 stands, 60 check-in desks, and 36 boarding gates.

The airport is easily accessible by public transportation. Airport bus routes 14 and 16 connect the airport to the Faro city centre bus station, and from there, connections are available to other Portuguese cities and Spanish destinations. The nearest railway station is about 5.7 kilometres away, and a taxi service is also available at the airport.

Funchal, Madeira is the main international airport of Madeira

Portugal has several airports, including Lisbon Airport, Porto Airport, and Faro Airport in the Algarve. Lisbon Airport is the country's primary international airport, handling the majority of routes from outside Europe.

Funchal Airport, also known as Madeira Airport, is the fourth-largest airport in Portugal and the main international airport on the island of Madeira. It is situated on the eastern side of the island, 17km from Funchal. The airport has the code FNC and offers flights to 69 destinations with 31 airlines. London and Amsterdam are among the top international destinations served by the airport.

Madeira Airport is known for its unique and challenging construction. It features a tabletop runway, with steep drop-offs at both ends, and is perched on a foreland jutting out to sea. The runway has been extended multiple times to accommodate larger aircraft and increasing tourism demand. Due to its location and design, pilots require additional training to land at the airport.

The airport has received recognition for its innovative structure, winning the Outstanding Structure Award in 2004 from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering. However, it has also been ranked as one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to its challenging approach and landing requirements.

Funchal Airport provides convenient transportation options for travellers, including a direct bus service called the Aerobus, operated by Sociedade de Automóveis (SAM). This bus takes approximately 35 minutes to reach the city centre and costs €5.

Beja Airport is located in the Alentejo region

Portugal has several airports catering to both international and domestic flights. The main international airport is Lisbon Airport, which is busy year-round and handles the majority of routes from outside Europe. Other notable airports in Portugal include Porto Airport and Faro Airport.

The website for Beja Airport is owned by ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, S.A. ("ANA"), which provides commercial and operational information to users of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, and Azores Airports. ANA also offers the "ANA Lounge" service, which can be booked online for a maximum of three hours and is designed for frequent travellers seeking a differentiated experience.

As of 2012, plans to convert Beja Airport into a cargo facility were under discussion, potentially serving as a logistics platform for goods shipped to the Port of Sines and the rest of Europe. In 2013, it was announced that Aigle Azur would operate seasonal flights from Paris to Beja, but these plans were halted when the airline filed for bankruptcy in 2019.

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