Ruth Haines
Portugal has ten airports, serving about 72 airlines that connect the country to 173 destinations worldwide. The three main airports in Portugal are Lisbon, Porto, and Faro. Lisbon Airport, officially known as Humberto Delgado Airport, is the busiest airport in the country, serving as a hub for TAP Air Portugal, the country's national airline. Lisbon Airport is located 7 kilometers northeast of the city center and has two passenger terminals. Porto Airport is the second-largest airport in the country and is located in Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal. Faro Airport, also known as Algarve Airport, is located 4 kilometers west of Faro and is one of the main leisure airports in Portugal, serving as a hub for Ryanair.
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What You'll Learn
Lisbon Airport, the country's busiest airport
Lisbon Airport, informally known as Humberto Delgado Airport, is Portugal's busiest airport. It is located 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) northeast of Lisbon's historic city centre. The airport is a major hub for flights to and from South America, notably Brazil, and Africa. It is also the main hub of Portugal's flag carrier, TAP Air Portugal, which has a complex at the airport that houses many head offices and the TAP Museum Archives.
Lisbon Airport is the 12th-largest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume, handling more than 33 million passengers in 2023 and more than 190,700 tonnes of cargo in the same year. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 being the main building used for both national and international flights. Terminal 2, the smaller and newer terminal, is used exclusively by low-cost carriers for European destinations.
The airport features a range of facilities for leisure and business travellers, including restaurants, duty-free shops, left luggage and baby care facilities, and meeting rooms. It also contains facilities for disabled passengers. Lisbon Airport is well-connected to the city centre, with taxi and bus services available, as well as a direct connection to the city's metro network.
Due to its capacity problems, there have been plans to build a new airport in the neighbouring municipality of Alcochete, which is scheduled for completion by 2034. However, Lisbon Airport continues to expand, with ongoing plans for new terminals to further increase its annual traffic.
With its central location, good transport connections, and high passenger volume, Lisbon Airport plays a crucial role as the main international gateway to Portugal.
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Porto Airport, the second-largest city in Portugal
Lisbon Airport, also known as Humberto Delgado Airport, is the main airport in Portugal. It is the 12th-largest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume and the busiest single-runway airport in mainland Europe, serving over 35 million passengers annually. Lisbon Airport is the main hub for TAP Air Portugal, the country's flag carrier and largest airline, as well as its subsidiary TAP Express. It is also a hub for low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet.
However, when it comes to the second-largest city in Portugal, Porto, its airport, Porto Airport, also known as Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, is a significant gateway for travellers. Located 8-13 km north of Porto, it is the second busiest airport in the country in terms of aircraft operations and passenger traffic. The airport serves as a base for easyJet, Ryanair, TAP Air Portugal, and TAP Express.
Porto Airport opened in 1945 as Pedras Rubras Airport, named after the locality where it is situated, known for its red rocks. In 1990, it was renamed after former Portuguese prime minister Francisco de Sá Carneiro, who died in a plane crash while travelling to this airport in 1980.
The airport features a terminal building designed by Portuguese firm ICQ, which became operational in 2006. Porto Airport surpassed ten million passengers in a year for the first time in 2017. Various transportation options are available from the airport to Porto's city centre, including taxis, airport shuttles, public buses, and the metro (line E of the Porto Metro).
The airport is surrounded by the municipalities of Matosinhos, Vila do Conde, and Maia, and it is served by several public transportation links. STCP buses connect the airport to the city, and there is an overnight bus service from Porto city centre to the airport. Additionally, a bus service operates twice daily on weekdays and once daily on weekends to/from Vigo in Spain.
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Faro Airport, a popular tourist destination
Lisbon Airport, also known as Humberto Delgado Airport, is one of the main airports in Portugal. It is the 12th-largest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume, serving over 35 million passengers annually. It is the primary hub for Portugal's flag carrier, TAP Air Portugal, and several other airlines.
However, Faro Airport, located in the Algarve region of Portugal, is also a prominent airport and a popular tourist destination. The Algarve is Portugal's most popular holiday destination, known for its spectacular beaches, tourist resorts, leisure activities, and golfing destinations. Faro Airport is the only airport serving the Algarve, making it a convenient gateway for travellers visiting this region.
Faro Airport caters to holidaymakers from Europe and beyond, especially the UK, Ireland, Holland, Germany, and France. It is served by major airlines such as British Airways and Lufthansa, along with low-cost carriers like EasyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. The airport provides easy access to the A22 motorway, which runs along the Algarve coast.
Faro Airport offers various facilities and services, including car hire, taxi transfers, and bicycle assembly areas. It serves as a hub for travellers exploring the Algarve's attractions, such as its renowned beaches, golf courses, and holiday resorts. The airport's ongoing development aims to accommodate the growing demand for flights to the Algarve.
From Faro Airport, travellers can conveniently reach various European destinations, including Lisbon, Porto, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, and Zurich. It also offers direct flights outside Europe, such as to Toronto, providing connections to destinations worldwide.
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Alentejo Airport, located in Beja
Lisbon Airport, also known as Humberto Delgado Airport, is the main airport in Portugal. It is located 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) northeast of Lisbon and serves as the main hub for the country's flag carrier, TAP Air Portugal. With more than 35 million passengers per year, it is the 12th-largest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume.
However, there are several international airports in Portugal that cater to both domestic and international flights. One of these is Alentejo Airport, located in Beja, which is dedicated to business aviation. The airport is situated in the Alentejo region, around 150 kilometres from Lisbon and 120 kilometres from Faro. It is also less than 60 kilometres from Spain.
Beja Airport opened its doors to civilian flights in 2011, becoming a dual-use military-civilian airport. The airport features a terminal dedicated to the transport of passengers, goods, and aircraft maintenance, enabling efficient operations. It is directly connected to a network of highways, providing easy access across the country.
In 2023, Beja Airport achieved the highest environmental assessment rating in the ACI's programme, showcasing its commitment to sustainability. It also obtained Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 5 from the Airports Council International, further emphasising its environmental efforts.
Despite being the only airport in Alentejo, one of Portugal's largest regions, Beja Airport has faced challenges in attracting low-cost carriers. As of 2012, there were discussions about converting it into cargo use, potentially serving as a logistics platform for the Port of Sines.
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Madeira Funchal Airport, a major airport outside mainland Portugal
The main airport in Portugal is Humberto Delgado Airport (IATA: LIS, ICAO: LPPT), informally Lisbon Airport and previously Portela Airport. It is an international airport located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northeast of the historical city centre of Lisbon, Portugal. With more than 35 million passengers per year, it is the 12th-largest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume and the busiest single-runway airport in mainland Europe.
However, there is another major airport outside mainland Portugal, the Madeira Funchal Airport. This airport is considered one of the most peculiarly perilous airports in the world due to its location and its spectacular runway construction. The History Channel programme Most Extreme Airports ranked it as the ninth most dangerous airport in the world and the third most dangerous in Europe. Pilots must undergo additional training to land at the airport. Madeira Airport is a geographically unusual airport, as it is perched on a foreland jutting out to sea.
The airport's runway, 05/23, is a tabletop runway, which means there are steep drop-offs at either end. The runway is also unique as it is placed on a platform supported by pillars, similar to a beam bridge. The airport opened on 7 July 1964, with a single 1,600 m (5,200 ft) runway (06/24). In 1972, the popularity of visiting the island of Madeira increased, so the runway was extended to allow modern and larger aircraft to land. The newly extended runway is now 2,781 m (9,124 ft) long and was inaugurated on 6 October 2002.
The airport is located on the island of Madeira in the Portuguese Atlantic archipelago of Madeira, 400 km north of Spain's Canary Islands. It is the only airport on the island and is served by a large number of European charter carriers, while Portuguese carriers TAP Portugal and SATA International offer domestic and European connections. The airport also serves as a link to smaller Madeira islands like Porto Santo.
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Frequently asked questions
Lisbon Airport, officially known as Humberto Delgado Airport, is the main airport in Portugal. It is located around 7 kilometres north-east of the city centre and has a capacity of around 26 million passengers per year.
Porto Airport and Faro Airport are also considered main airports in Portugal.
Lisbon Airport is the busiest airport in Portugal.
