Gago Coutinho Airport

Faro International Airport (Portuguese: Aeroporto de Faro, IATA: FAO, ICAO: LPFR), officially Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (Aeroporto Internacional de Faro - Gago Coutinho ), is located four kilometres (two nautical miles) west[6] of the city of Faro in Portugal. The airport opened in July 1965[7] being the main gateway to Faro District (the year-round resort region of the Algarve) and southwestern Spain, with nine million passengers using the facility in 2019. Since 2022, it is named after Gago Coutinho, Portuguese geographer, cartographer, naval officer, historian and aviation pioneer.

For the airport in Yukon, Canada, see Faro Airport (Yukon).
Not to be confused with Paro Airport.

Faro Airport

Aeroporto Internacional de Faro
20220909 154134 Faro Airport ex LH1163 D AIEN.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPublic, operated by Vinci Group
OperatorANA Aeroportos de Portugal
ServesFaro, Algarve, Portugal
Focus city for
Elevation AMSL7 m / 24 ft
Coordinates37°00′52″N 007°57′57″W
Websiteana.pt
Map
LPFR is located in Portugal
LPFR
LPFR
Location within Portugal
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 2,490 8,169 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Passengers8,171,000
Passengers change 21-22Increase 150.2%
Aircraft Movements55,600
Movements change 21-22Increase 72.0%
Sources: ANAC,[2] , ANA,[3][4] WAD[5]

History
Arrivals area
Terminal building
Terminal building

Faro International Airport is located 4 km from Faro, the capital city of Algarve in Portugal. Situated in the southern coast of Portugal, the airport was constructed during the 1960s and inaugurated in 1965. The Portuguese Government was the owner of Faro airport until the 2010s when Vinci Group became its owner. The national airport authority ANA Aeroportos de Portugal has been its operator. Along with the airports in Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada, Santa Maria, Horta, Flores, Madeira, and Porto Santo, the airport's concessions to provide support to civil aviation were conceded to ANA Aeroportos de Portugal on 18 December 1998, under provisions of decree 404/98. With this concession, ANA became responsible for the planning, development and construction of future infrastructure.[8]

Since its opening in 1966 to the 2000s, Faro airport has had two major developments: the new passenger terminal building in 1989, and its enlargement in 2001. Faced with growing traffic demand and passenger safety and satisfaction needs, the development plan for 2009–2013 saw Faro airport undergo extensive improvements to runway and infrastructure, as well as a widespread renovation of the airport terminal and commercial areas.[9] The airport authority announced an expansion programme for Faro airport in February 2010. Phase I of the expansion started in 2010 and was completed by 2011. Phase II began in 2011 and was completed by 2013. Faro International Airport handled 5,447,200 passengers and recorded 39,789 aircraft movements in 2008. When the Phase II expansion was completed, the annual capacity of the airport increased from six million to eight million passengers. Passengers handled per hour increased to 3,000, the number of aircraft handled per hour increased to 30, and aircraft parking bays increased from 22 to 33. Additional shops and waiting areas were constructed as part of the expansion. In Phase I, new aircraft stands and taxiways were planned to be constructed. A new instrument landing system (ILS) was installed at the runway along with the installation of a glide reflection mirror. The security area at the runway was also expanded. Phase II involved the renovation of the passenger terminal and the improvement of the landside access.[10]

As of 2019, Faro Airport is capable of handling nine million passengers a year. There are 22 stands of which 16 are remote, with 60 check-in desks and 36 boarding gates.[11]

In June 2022 it was announced that the airport would carry Gago Coutinho's name in honour of the navigator and admiral who, in 1922, together with the aviator Sacadura Cabral, accomplished the First aerial crossing of the South Atlantic in the seaplane Lusitânia, named after the Roman Empire name for what would become Portugal.[12] The airport name became official in September 2022. At the same time it was announced the commissioning of a solar power plant with a capacity of 3MWp, enabling to produce 30% of the airport's electricity needs, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 1,500 tonnes per year.[13]

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled direct passenger flights at Faro Airport:

AirlinesDestinations
Aer Lingus Dublin
Seasonal: Cork
Air France Paris–Charles de Gaulle[14]
Air Transat Toronto–Pearson
Azores Airlines Ponta Delgada (begins 2 June 2024)[15]
British Airways London–Gatwick
Seasonal: London–City, London–Heathrow, Southampton
Seasonal charter: Derry (begins 20 May 2024),[16] Guernsey (begins 26 May 2024)[17]
Brussels Airlines Brussels
Chair Airlines Seasonal: Zürich
Condor Seasonal: Düsseldorf,[18] Frankfurt,[19] Hamburg,[18] Leipzig/Halle,[20] Munich[18]
easyJet Amsterdam, Basel/Mulhouse, Belfast–International, Bordeaux, Bristol, Geneva, Glasgow, Liverpool, London–Gatwick, London–Luton, Lyon, Manchester, Milan–Malpensa, Nantes, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Paris–Orly
Seasonal: Barcelona,[21] Berlin, Birmingham,[22] London–Southend,[23] Toulouse[21]
Edelweiss Air Zürich
Eurowings Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Hannover (begins 30 April 2024),[24] Stockholm–Arlanda, Stuttgart
Seasonal: Hamburg
Iberia Seasonal: Madrid[25]
Jet2.com Belfast–International, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool (begins 30 March 2024),[26] London–Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne
Lufthansa Frankfurt, Munich
Luxair Luxembourg
Marabu Seasonal: Hamburg, Munich
Norwegian Air Shuttle Stockholm–Arlanda
Seasonal: Copenhagen, Oslo
Ryanair Aarhus,[27] Beauvais, Belfast–International,[28] Bergamo, Berlin, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Charleroi, Cork, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Glasgow–Prestwick, Hahn,[29] Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden,[30] Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London–Luton, London–Stansted, Manchester, Memmingen, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newquay, Porto, Vienna, Weeze
Seasonal: Aberdeen, Barcelona,[27][31] Bordeaux, Cardiff, Cologne/Bonn, Copenhagen,[27] Exeter,[32] Kerry, Knock, Luxembourg,[30][33] Madrid,[34] Marseille,[35] Nuremberg,[36][37] Rome–Fiumicino,[27] Shannon, Teesside, Toulouse,[27] Valencia, Warsaw–Modlin
Scandinavian Airlines Copenhagen, Stockholm–Arlanda
Seasonal: Oslo[38]
Smartwings Seasonal: Katowice,[39] Prague, Warsaw–Chopin[39]
Swiss International Air Lines Seasonal: Geneva[40]
TAP Air Portugal Lisbon
Transavia Amsterdam, Brussels,[41] Eindhoven, Lyon, Nantes, Paris–Orly, Rotterdam/The Hague
TUI Airways[42] London–Gatwick, Manchester
Seasonal: Birmingham, East Midlands
TUI fly Belgium[43] Seasonal: Brussels
TUI fly Deutschland Seasonal: Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Stuttgart
Volotea Seasonal: Bilbao,[44] Lille,[45] Lyon, Nantes, Strasbourg,[46] Toulouse[47]
Vueling Seasonal: Barcelona, Bilbao[48]
Wizz Air Seasonal: London–Gatwick

Statistics
Aerial view.
Airport view.

Passenger numbers
Annual passenger traffic at FAO airport. See Wikidata query.
Passengers % Change
2001 4,579,459
2002 4,706,432Increase 2.8%
2003 4,696,100Decrease 0.2%
2004 4,658,189Decrease 0.8%
2005 4,754,508Increase 2.1%
2006 5,089,733Increase 7.1%
2007 5,470,712Increase 7.5%
2008 5,447,200Decrease 0.4%
2009 5,062,214Decrease 7.1%
2010 5,337,542Increase 5.4%
2011 5,617,688Increase 5.2%
2012 5,674,221Increase 1.0%
2013 5,982,950Increase 5.4%
2014 6,168,868Increase 3.1%
2015 6,439,480Increase 4.9%
2016 7,632,857Increase 18.5%
2017 8,728,876Increase 14.4%
2018 8,687,064Decrease 0.5%
2019 9,010,860Increase 3.7%
2020 2,208,276Decrease 75.5%
2021 3,265,182Increase 47.9%
2022 8,170,715Increase 150.2%
Jan–Aug 2023 6,661,000Increase 18.8%
Source: Pordata[49] INE[50]

Busiest routes
Busiest routes from Faro Airport (2019)[51]
Rank City, airport Passengers  %
change
 Top carriers
1 United Kingdom London-Gatwick 714,769 Increase 0.3% British Airways, easyJet, TUI Airways
2 Republic of Ireland Dublin 538,500 Increase 2.3% Aer Lingus, Ryanair
3 United Kingdom Manchester 531,253 Increase 12.0% easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI Airways
4 United Kingdom London–Stansted 400,723 Increase 8.6% Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI Airways
5 United Kingdom Bristol 308,963 Increase 2.1% easyJet, Ryanair, TUI Airways
6 Portugal Lisbon 291,151 Decrease 8% TAP Air Portugal
7 United Kingdom Birmingham 288,965 Increase 11.0% Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI Airways
8 United Kingdom London-Luton 285,236 Decrease 1.8% easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air
9 Netherlands Amsterdam 258,293 Decrease 6.7% Corendon Dutch Airlines, Transavia
10 United Kingdom East Midlands 255,516 Increase 3.2% Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI Airways

Ground transport
A view of the air traffic control tower of Gago Coutinho Airport.

Car

The airport is close to the A22 highway, with connections throughout the Algarve and direct to Lisbon and Spain. Faro airport has 3 different car parking areas. The closest parking area is called "Parking P0 / P1 – Classic", used for short-term visitors, while parking areas P2 and P3 are used for longer term car storage.

Kiss and Fly is the name for a form of fast parking at the airport.[52]

Bus

Airport bus routes 14 and 16 run each day between Faro Airport and Faro city centre bus station. From the bus station there are connections to most other Portuguese cities as well as to many Spanish destinations. The airport bus route is currently run by a company called "Proximo".

Railway

The nearest railway station is Faro which is about 5.7 kilometres (3.5 mi) away and is located close to Faro city centre bus station.[53] A study into a rail link to the airport was undertaken in 2018.[54]

Taxis

Public taxis are available from the airport and operate 24/7.

Ride hailing

Ride hailing companies' services are widely available in the area.

Accolades

In 2012, Airports Council International gave Faro Airport the title of Best Improvement in Europe.[55]

Accidents and incidents
  • On 21 December 1992, Martinair Flight 495 sustained a hard landing in bad weather at Faro Airport, killing 54 passengers and two crew out of a total of 340 people on board.[56]
  • On 24 October 2011, an overnight storm collapsed portions of terminal roofs and blew out most windows in the control tower. Four people were slightly injured, one severely.[57]

See also

References
  1. "EasyJet opens Faro summer base". Travel Weekly.
  2. "Boletins Estatísticos Trimestrais" [Quarterly Statistical Bulletins]. ANAC (in Portuguese). Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority.
  3. Annual Report 2019 (PDF), Lisbon: ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, 28 January 2020
  4. "Aeroportos portugueses com o maior crescimento de sempre" [Portuguese airports with the highest growth ever] (Press release) (in Portuguese). ANA Aeroportos de Portugal. 7 January 2016. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016.
  5. "FARO". World Aero Data. WorldAeroData.com. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  6. AIP Part 3 – AD 2 Aerodromes Archived 15 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "The history of Porto Airport - Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport". Porto-Airport-Car-Rental.com. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  9. "Faro International Airport Terminal Expansion". Airport Technology. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  10. "Faro International Airport".
  11. "anna.aero | Undergoing Maintenance". www.therouteshop.com.
  12. "Faro Airport renamed". The Portugal News. The Portugal News. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  13. Portugal might become the first country to have zero-emission airports, TheMayor.EU, TZVETOZAR VINCENT IOLOV, Retrieved 14.09.2022.
  14. Liu, Jim. "Air France S20 Spain/Portugal network additions". Routesonline. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  15. "Azores Airlines Plans June 2024 Ponta Delgada – Faro Launch". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  16. "Majorca and the Algarve – Direct from City of Derry Next Summer". 25 July 2023.
  17. "Flying to Majorca from Guernsey | Flight information".
  18. "Sommer 2023: Condor plant einige neue Ferienstrecken ab Deutschland". 27 May 2022.
  19. Sena, Gastón (22 April 2022). "Condor will have flights to Alicante and Faro". Aviacionline. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  20. "Condor schedule - summer 2023" (PDF).
  21. "EASYJET NS23 NETWORK ADDITIONS SUMMARY – 30JAN23". Aeroroutes. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  22. "EASYJET CELEBRATES FLYING THREE MILLION PASSENGERS TO AND FROM BHX AND LAUNCHES NEW SUMMER ROUTE TO FARO". Birmingham Airport.
  23. "EasyJet adds new summer leisure flights from UK".
  24. "Eurowings NS24 Hanover / Nuremberg Network Expansion". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  25. "Iberia to increase its presence in Portugal during the summer". 29 April 2022.
  26. "Jet2 unveils 11th base at Liverpool John Lennon Airport". Travel Weekly.
  27. "Ryanair abre 18 novas rotas em 2023 no Porto e em Faro devido a descida das taxas".
  28. "Third Time Lucky? Ryanair Announces Belfast Base with 12 Routes". 7 July 2022.
  29. "Rayanir website". Ryanair.com.
  30. "Ryanair".
  31. "Ryanair NW23 Network Changes – 17SEP23".
  32. "Ryanair NS23 Network Additions – 22DEC22".
  33. "Ryanair NW23 Network Changes – 17SEP23".
  34. "Ryanair NW23 Network Changes – 17SEP23".
  35. "Ryanair NW23 Network Changes – 17SEP23".
  36. "Ryanair Delivers Tourism Recovery at Nuremberg Airport – Ryanair's Corporate Website". 8 December 2021.
  37. "Ryanair NW23 Network Changes – 17SEP23".
  38. "SAS S19 European network additions". Routesonline.
  39. Liu, Jim. "Smartwings schedules seasonal routes from Poland in S19". Routesonline. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  40. "Swiss ouvre cinq routes estivales à Genève | Air Journal". www.air-journal.fr. 20 December 2018.
  41. "Transavia vliegt komende zomer vanaf Brussels Airport - Travelpro". 21 December 2021.
  42. "Flight Timetable". tui.co.uk.
  43. "Flight plan". tui.be.
  44. "Volotea unirá este verano Loiu con la ciudad portuguesa de Faro y Santorini". 30 November 2022.
  45. "Seven new routes from Lille Airport". 28 April 2022.
  46. "Aéroport Strasbourg-Entzheim: Volotea va annoncer une nouvelle destination".
  47. Eymery, Céline. "Volotea étoffe son programme depuis Ajaccio, Deauville et Toulouse". Tourmag.com, le Média Spécialiste du Tourisme Francophone. Tourmag.com. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  48. "Vueling anuncia una nueva ruta desde el aeropuerto de Bilbao a Faro el próximo verano". 21 December 2022.
  49. "Tráfego de passageiros nos aeroportos: Lisboa, Porto e Faro". Pordata. 2023.
  50. "Movimento de passageiros nos aeroportos nacionais continua a atingir máximos históricos - Agosto de 2023". INE. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  51. "Eurostat Data Explorer". Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  52. Portugal, ANA - Aeroportos de (8 July 2016). "Kiss & Fly - Faro Airport". AeroportoFaro.pt. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  53. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  54. "Studies to be carried out on rail link to Faro Airport". The Portugal News. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  55. List of Airport Service Quality Award winners#5-15 million
  56. "Final Report on the Accident Occurring at Faro Airport - Portugal on 21 December 1992" (PDF).
  57. "Storm damages Faro airport, snarls flights". portugaldailyview.com. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.

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