Roberta Aguirre
Tenerife has two airports: Tenerife North Airport (TFN) and Tenerife South Airport (TFS). The Tenerife North Airport, also known as Los Rodeos, is the original airport, located 11 kilometres from the capital, Santa Cruz. It operates mostly domestic flights between the islands of the archipelago, although it also serves some international destinations. On the other hand, Tenerife South Airport, also known as Reina Sofía Airport, is the island's most modern international airport and one of the busiest in Spain. It is situated in the most tourist area of the island and offers over a hundred air links to different parts of the world. The need for a second airport arose in the late 1960s due to adverse weather conditions and the growth of mass tourism in the south of the island.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports | 2 |
| Names of the airports | Tenerife North Airport (TFN), Tenerife South Airport (TFS) |
| Year of construction | TFN: 1946, TFS: 1978 |
| Location | TFN: North of the island, TFS: South of the island |
| Distance from Santa Cruz | TFN: 11 km, TFS: 60 km |
| Distance from Puerto de la Cruz | TFN: 28 km, TFS: 89 km |
| Distance from Playa de las Américas | TFN: 89 km, TFS: 10 mins drive |
| Distance from Los Cristianos | TFN: N/A, TFS: 10 mins drive |
| Transport facilities | TFN: Buses, taxis, car rentals, TFS: Buses, taxis, car rentals |
| Number of destinations | TFN: 21, TFS: 111 |
| Purpose | TFN: Domestic flights, TFS: Holiday flights |
| Fog proneness | TFN: Yes, TFS: No |
| Number of car parking spaces | TFN: N/A, TFS: 800+ |
| Major incidents | TFN: 1977 aviation collision, TFS: N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- Tenerife North Airport has poor visibility due to fog, causing air disasters
- Tenerife South Airport is in a tourist area, so it's the busiest
- TFN is mainly used by Spanish domestic flights
- TFS is for tourists who flock to the warmer southern half of the island
- TFN serves the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tenerife North Airport has poor visibility due to fog, causing air disasters
Tenerife North Airport, formerly known as Los Rodeos Airport, has long been susceptible to thick fog, which has contributed to several air disasters. The airport is located in the mountains in the north of the island, where the climate is cloudier and rainier than in the south. The fog often results in low visibility, which has made the airport unsafe for aircraft.
The Tenerife airport disaster, which occurred on 27 March 1977, was the deadliest accident in aviation history. Two Boeing 747 passenger jets, KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, collided on the runway, resulting in 583 deaths. The accident was caused by a combination of factors, including heavy fog, radio interference, and misinterpretation of instructions. The foggy conditions limited visibility, and the control tower and aircraft crews were unable to see each other. The controller, who could not see the runway due to the fog, responded with "OK" to the KLM first officer's statement that they were "now at takeoff," which was misinterpreted as takeoff clearance.
Prior to the 1977 disaster, there had been other incidents at Tenerife North Airport attributed to foggy conditions. In 1972, a Spantax Convair crash killed 156 people. This was followed by another disaster in 1980, when a Dan-Air 727 crashed near the airport, resulting in 146 fatalities. These incidents highlighted the need for a second airport on the island, and in 1978, Tenerife South Airport was inaugurated to serve the majority of international tourist flights.
The presence of two airports on Tenerife allows for the accommodation of a larger number of flights and passengers, as well as providing an alternative when one airport experiences adverse weather conditions. While Tenerife North Airport continues to serve domestic and inter-island flights, Tenerife South Airport caters to the increasing number of tourists visiting the island, offering connections to various destinations worldwide.
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Tenerife South Airport is in a tourist area, so it's the busiest
Tenerife South Airport, also known as Reina Sofía Airport, is the island's busiest airport. It is located in the most tourist-heavy area of the island, offering over a hundred air links to other parts of the world. In 2014, this airport handled over 9 million passengers. The Tenerife South Airport is 60 kilometres from Santa Cruz de Tenerife and just a 10-minute ride from Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos. It is also just 20 minutes away from the surrounding holiday resorts, with taxi rides costing around 20 euros.
The Tenerife South Airport is more modern and has better weather than its northern counterpart. The north is usually about 4 degrees colder than the south, and it rains more often. The south is also sunnier, drier, and warmer, which is why most holidaymakers opt for this part of the island.
Flights from Tenerife South are filled with holidaymakers, while flights from Tenerife North are mostly commuter travel with seats filled by business people and politicians. Tenerife North Airport operates mostly domestic flights between the islands of the archipelago. It is located 11 kilometres from the capital, Santa Cruz, and has a yearly passenger turnover of 4 million.
Tenerife South Airport has various facilities, including ATMs, a bank, conference and meeting rooms, public phones, free Wifi, bars, restaurants, and shops. It also has good transport links, with the public bus service being a relatively cheap and quick way to get to and from the airport.
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TFN is mainly used by Spanish domestic flights
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and a popular tourist destination, which contributes to the need for two airports. TFN, or Tenerife North Airport, and TFS, Tenerife South Airport, are both international airports, but they serve different purposes due to their distinct locations and facilities.
TFN, situated in the north of the island, caters primarily to domestic flights within Spain. Its focus on domestic travel is twofold. Firstly, its location in the north positions it closer to the island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the metropolitan area, which comprises a significant portion of the island's population. This proximity to the main population centers makes TFN a convenient option for residents traveling within Spain, whether for business or leisure. Secondly, TFN serves as a vital link between Tenerife and the rest of Spain, facilitating travel for locals and visitors alike.
The airport handles a substantial volume of domestic traffic, connecting Tenerife with various Spanish cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. These routes are served by prominent Spanish carriers such as Iberia, Air Europa, and Binter Canarias. TFN also accommodates some international flights, particularly those operated by low-cost carriers, but its primary role remains focused on domestic travel.
The airport's infrastructure reflects this focus, with facilities tailored to meet the needs of domestic travelers. TFN features a single, modern terminal building that provides efficient and streamlined services for departing and arriving passengers. The terminal is designed to handle a substantial number of passengers, ensuring smooth processing during peak travel times. Additionally, the airport offers convenient ground transportation options, including bus and taxi services, further enhancing its accessibility for local travelers.
TFN's role as a domestic travel hub also contributes to the efficient distribution of air traffic across the island. By catering primarily to domestic flights, TFN helps alleviate congestion at TFS, allowing the southern airport to focus more exclusively on international traffic and package holiday travelers. This division of roles ensures that both airports can effectively manage the high volume of visitors to Tenerife, providing a seamless travel experience for all.
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TFS is for tourists who flock to the warmer southern half of the island
Tenerife has two airports, the Tenerife North Airport (TFN) and the Tenerife South Airport (TFS). The south airport is located in the most tourist area of the island and is the busiest, with hundreds of connections to different parts of the world.
TFS is mainly used by charter and holiday flights, although there are some scheduled flights. Because of its location near Playa De Las Americas and the surrounding holiday resorts, it is only a 20-minute taxi ride to these resorts, which will cost around 20 euros. TFS has more capacity and parking spaces than TFN, and it is not prone to fog like TFN.
TFN, on the other hand, serves the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which is the capital. Most Spanish domestic flights serve TFN, connecting Tenerife to the other islands of the archipelago. TFN was the original airport, located in the mountains, and has been the site of several major air disasters due to difficult terrain and fog.
The south of Tenerife is generally warmer, drier, and sunnier than the north, which is why most holidaymakers opt for this part of the island. The north is more cloudy and receives more rainfall, although this is welcomed after the hot summers. The north is also home to the poshest part of Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz, and the town of Playa de las Americas, which has great nightlife.
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TFN serves the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tenerife has two airports: Tenerife North Airport (TFN) and Tenerife South Airport (TFS). Tenerife North Airport, also known as Los Rodeos, is located in the north of the island, in the municipality of San Cristóbal de la Laguna, and is about 11 kilometres from the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. TFN is the original airport on the island and mainly serves Spanish domestic flights and the Canarian population. It has connections to several other Canary Islands, as well as some mainland Spanish destinations.
TFN is located in the Valley of Parrots, which lets in foggy Alisian winds, creating poor visibility. This has caused several air disasters, including the Tenerife airport disaster in 1977, when two Boeing 747 passenger jets collided on the runway due to poor visibility.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of Tenerife, and it is located in the north of the island. The city is accessible by bus or taxi from TFN. There are good transport links to and from the airport, and using the public bus service is a relatively cheap and quick way to get to and from TFN.
TFN has a yearly passenger turnover of 4 million and offers various amenities, including information desks, bars, cafes, restaurants, a bank, pharmacies, ATMs, conference and meeting rooms, WiFi, public telephones, and shops.
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Frequently asked questions
Tenerife has two airports due to the growth of tourism on the island, particularly in the south. The Tenerife North Airport (TFN), the original airport, is located in the capital city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and is used mostly for domestic flights. However, the adverse weather conditions in the north, especially fog, led to the construction of a second airport in the south. The Tenerife South Airport (TFS) is situated in a tourist area and is the busiest airport, offering connections to various parts of the world.
The Tenerife North Airport, also known as Los Rodeos, primarily serves domestic flights and commuter travel within the Canary Islands. It has a yearly passenger turnover of around 4 million. On the other hand, the Tenerife South Airport, also known as Reina Sofia Airport, is the busier of the two, offering over a hundred international connections. This airport handles a much larger passenger volume, accommodating over 9 million passengers in 2014.
Both airports in Tenerife have good transport links. You can get to and from the airports by taxi, bus, or car. The taxi journey from Puerto de la Cruz to the North Airport takes around 20 minutes, while the bus journey to the South Airport takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes. The drive between the two airports takes approximately 50 minutes.
