Lois Larson
Portugal is served by several international airports that cater to both domestic and international flights. The country has three main international airports: Lisbon (LIS), Faro (FAO), and Porto (OPO). These airports serve the entire country, offering numerous international flight routes, including many operated by low-cost airlines. Lisbon Airport, also known as Humberto Delgado Airport, is the busiest single-runway airport in mainland Europe, handling more than 35 million passengers per year. Porto Airport is modern and easy to travel through, while Faro Airport is also modern but gets overly crowded during the summer and lacks public transportation options. The islands of Madeira and the Azores each have their own airports with regular flights to mainland Portugal.
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What You'll Learn
- Lisbon Airport is the busiest single-runway airport in mainland Europe
- Faro Airport is modern but lacks public transport for onward travel
- Porto Airport is modern and easy to travel through
- Lisbon Airport is undergoing a €1.1 billion expansion plan
- Lisbon Airport was a hub for smuggling people into, out of, and across Europe during World War II
Lisbon Airport is the busiest single-runway airport in mainland Europe
Portugal has three main international airports: Lisbon (LIS), Faro (FAO), and Porto (OPO). These airports serve the entire country, offering numerous international flight routes. Lisbon Airport, also known as Lisbon Humberto Delgado or Portela Airport, is the busiest airport in Portugal and the 12th-largest airport in Europe for passengers, handling over 30 million passengers in 2019 and more than 33 million travellers in 2023. With more than 35 million passengers per year, it is the busiest single-runway airport in mainland Europe. Lisbon Airport is located 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) northeast of the historical city centre of Lisbon, Portugal. This strategic location makes it easy for passengers to get to their hotels without much hassle. The airport is well-equipped with restaurants, duty-free shops, left luggage and baby care facilities, and meeting rooms. It also contains facilities for disabled people.
Lisbon Airport has two terminals to handle its massive amount of traffic, but there are plans to build a third terminal dedicated to international flights, which could further increase its annual traffic. The larger Terminal 1 complex handles all arrivals and the departures of most flights, with more than 100 check-in desks and 29 gates for departures worldwide. Terminal 2, which opened in August 2007, is used by low-cost carriers such as easyJet, which moved there in 2022. The terminals include check-in counters, a post office, ATM machines, food vending machines, restaurants, and security checks. A free shuttle connects the two terminals.
Lisbon Airport is the main hub for TAP Air Portugal and its subsidiary TAP Express. It is also a hub for low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet and a focus city for Azores Airlines, euroAtlantic Airways, Hi Fly, and White Airways. The airport serves as a major hub for flights to and from South America, notably Brazil, and Africa. It carries approximately 200,000 tonnes of cargo per year.
Lisbon Airport opened on 15 October 1942 with four runways each a kilometre long. It has since expanded and currently has sixteen jetways. During World War II, the airport was open to both Axis and Allied forces. In 1946, it was used by major airlines such as Air France, British European Airways, Iberia, KLM, Sabena, Pan Am, and Trans World Airlines. A major upgrade from 1959 to 1962 included a new runway capable of handling the first generation of jets. In 1962, runway 02/20 came into use, allowing direct transatlantic flights. The airport has continued to undergo structural and equipment improvements and expansions, with the most recent upgrades in 2022.
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Faro Airport is modern but lacks public transport for onward travel
Portugal has three main international airports: Lisbon (LIS), Faro (FAO), and Porto (OPO). The islands of Madeira and the Azores each have their own airports with regular flights to mainland Portugal. In recent years, there has been significant investment in Portuguese airport infrastructure, including a complete modernisation of Faro Airport.
Faro Airport is a modern airport that serves the Algarve region of Portugal. It offers various amenities, such as free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, duty-free shops, dining options, currency exchange services, and ATMs. However, one of the main drawbacks of Faro Airport is the lack of convenient public transport options for onward travel to nearby cities and towns. While the airport is well-connected to the rest of the Algarve region, as well as other destinations in Portugal and Spain, accessing these transport links can be cumbersome.
There is no train station at Faro Airport, so passengers need to take an airport shuttle bus, taxi, or private transfer to reach the Faro railway station, which is about six kilometres away. The shuttle bus service can be infrequent, with long waits for departures. Additionally, the single bus route from the airport to Faro, the number 16 bus, can get very busy, and there is no designated storage for luggage. This bus also does not operate late at night, with the last departures leaving between 7 pm and 8 pm. For late arrivals, travellers may need to rely on taxis or ride-sharing services like Uber or Bolt, which can be more expensive.
For travellers heading to Albufeira, a private transfer is recommended as the fastest and most convenient option. These transfers can be booked in advance, with companies like Yellow Fish offering professional services at competitive prices. During the peak season, it is essential to consider the limited public transport options and high demand for ride-sharing services, which may result in higher fares and longer wait times.
While Faro Airport is modern and well-equipped, its lack of convenient public transport for onward travel can be a significant inconvenience, especially for travellers relying on budget-friendly options or those arriving outside of standard business hours. It is important for visitors to plan their onward travel in advance to navigate this challenge effectively.
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Porto Airport is modern and easy to travel through
Portugal has three main international airports: Lisbon (LIS), Faro (FAO), and Porto (OPO). Recent years have seen significant investment in Portuguese airport infrastructure, with a new terminal building in Lisbon and a complete modernisation of Faro airport. Overall, Portuguese airports are modern, and the arrival process is generally good.
Porto Airport, also known as Sá Carneiro Airport or Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, is modern and easy to travel through. The airport has an efficient organisation and management system, which helped it win Europe's Best Airport Award in 2007 and second place in 2010. The airport is well-equipped with a pharmacy, a bookstore, duty-free shops, a shoe store, newsstands, cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, and a porter service. The tourist information desk operates daily, except on December 25th and January 1st, from 08:00 to 18:30. Here, you can ask for information, pick up your Porto Card, or buy the Andante Tour Card.
Getting from the airport to Porto city centre, or vice versa, is easy and relatively stress-free compared to many other international airports. The metro is the fastest and most convenient way to travel to the city centre, with the purple line taking you directly from the airport terminal to the centre in approximately 30-35 minutes. The best station for downtown is Trindade, just a short walk from Avenida dos Aliados, Bolhão, Rua de Santa Catarina, and the neighbourhood of Cedofeita. The metro requires an Andante card, which can be purchased at any station. Alternatively, you can take one of the two regular public bus services (routes 601 and 602) to Cordoaria (Torre dos Clérigos) in central Porto, although the bus takes longer and has limited luggage space. A single bus fare costs €2.25, while a metro ticket to Trindade station costs €2. A taxi transfer is the fastest option, taking 20-30 minutes and costing between €20-25, but it is also the most expensive. Pre-booked private transfers are another inexpensive and convenient option, starting at €30.
If you plan to travel around Portugal and visit cities close to Porto, such as Aveiro, Coimbra, or Lisbon, it is recommended to rent a car at the airport. Driving in central Porto, however, can be challenging due to limited parking and congested roads.
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Lisbon Airport is undergoing a €1.1 billion expansion plan
Portugal has three main international airports: Lisbon (LIS), Faro (FAO), and Porto (OPO). Lisbon Airport, officially known as Humberto Delgado Airport or Lisbon-Portela Airport, is the country's primary international airport, handling the majority of routes from outside Europe.
In January 2019, the Portuguese government announced a €1.1 billion plan to expand the airport. The expansion plan, known as the New Lisbon Airport, includes the construction of two 4000-meter-long parallel runways, capable of accommodating all aircraft types, including the new A380. The airport will have a multi-modal center located within the premises, adjacent to the passenger terminal, and will offer contact gates for the majority of parking positions.
The New Lisbon Airport is designed to significantly increase the airport's capacity, targeting 22 million passengers per year initially, with an expansion plan in place to reach 43 million passengers per year by 2050. This expansion will also increase the cargo capacity, starting at around 133,000 tons and expanding to 405,000 tons by 2050. The project is estimated to cost between 3.1 and 3.3 million Euros and is expected to create 34,500 new jobs, with a positive impact on the Portuguese GDP of around 1.6%.
However, the expansion plan has faced opposition due to concerns over increased pollution and noise. Lisbon Airport is already one of Europe's most congested airports, with flight paths directly over the city, leading to noise pollution and health risks for nearby residents. Despite these concerns, the expansion plan is underway, with the new airport expected to be linked to the Lisbon-Madrid High-Speed Rail Service.
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Lisbon Airport was a hub for smuggling people into, out of, and across Europe during World War II
Lisbon Airport, officially known as Humberto Delgado Airport, is located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northeast of the historical city centre of Lisbon, Portugal. It is the country's main international airport, handling the majority of routes from outside of Europe, and is the 12th-largest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume, serving over 35 million passengers per year. The airport opened on 15 October 1942, during World War II, and was a hub for smuggling people into, out of, and across Europe.
During World War II, Lisbon, the capital of neutral Portugal, became a crucial gateway in and out of Nazi-occupied Europe. The city's airport played a significant role in this movement of people, with refugees, spies, and smugglers converging in a chaotic and dangerous mix. The scene at the airport was famously depicted in the classic World War II film "Casablanca," where Ilsa's flight to Lisbon represented the desperate scramble for visas and transport to escape Nazi power.
Portugal's strategic maritime position and its empire of colonies across Africa and Asia contributed to its importance during the war. Lisbon, in particular, with its brightly lit streets and coastal location, offered a unique setting for those seeking to escape the darkness of war elsewhere in Europe. The city's role as a crossroads was further enhanced by its port, where those fleeing the war rubbed shoulders with Gestapo agents and spies from all sides.
The Portuguese dictator at the time, António de Oliveira Salazar, played a complex role in this period. While he is remembered for his suppression of democracy and persecution of Communists, he also contributed to Portugal's ability to remain neutral during the war. Salazar's policies were a mix of pragmatism and personal preference, and he sought to safeguard Portugal's colonial empire from the dominant postwar superpowers.
Lisbon Airport's role as a hub for smuggling and refugee movement during World War II has been documented by authors such as Neill Lochery in his book "Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-1945." Lochery paints a vivid picture of the city during this time, describing it as a "neglected sleeping beauty of a city" that suddenly found itself at the crossroads of a global conflict.
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Frequently asked questions
The main international airport in Portugal is Humberto Delgado Airport (IATA: LIS), informally Lisbon Airport, located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northeast of the historical city centre of Lisbon.
Lisbon Airport was previously known as Portela Airport and more recently as Lisbon Portela Airport. In 2016, it was renamed after Humberto Delgado, a famous Portuguese air force general and politician.
Lisbon Airport is the busiest airport in Portugal, with more than 35 million passengers per year. It is the 12th-largest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume.
Portugal has three other main international airports: Faro (FAO) and Porto (OPO) on the mainland, and Beja (BYJ) which is infrequently used. The islands of Madeira and the Azores each have their own airports with regular flights to mainland Portugal.
You can get to the airport in Portugal by aerobus, metro, local bus, or taxi.
