Faro Airport (FAO)

Faro Airport is located approximately 2.6 km, or 1.6 miles from the city centre of Faro, in the Algarve region of Portugal. This airport is considered to be a very important gateway, as it is the only airport serving the southern regions of the country. Over the summer months the airport is at its busiest, as the Algarve region is well known as an area with some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, but on average, over five million people make use of the airport every year. Faro International Airport is also a hub for the popular low-cost airline company of Ryanair, and is served by a number of other airline companies as well.

Faro International Airport is accessible by road from the A22 toll free highway. This highway is well connected to all areas throughout the Algarve region, and has a direct route to Lisbon and Spain. The postal address of the airport is Faro Airport, 8001-701, Faro, Portugal, and a contact number is +351 (0) 289 800 800. The airport’s fax number is listed as +351 (0) 289 818 802.

Ryanair, also known as the world’s favourite low-cost airline, recently opened its 39th base at Faro Airport. The new base has 31 routes and seven aircraft, and will increase Ryanair’s annual passenger number to approximately 1.7 million. Since 2000, Ryanair has boosted air traffic at a large number of airports throughout the European Union, and has become known to offer reliable and low-cost services. The introduction of low-cost airline carriers was a phenomenon in the early 21st century that greatly assisted smaller airports. Some of these airports are scattered throughout Italy, and Ryanair is present at the majority of them. A few of Ryanair’s new routes that began in 2010 from Faro Airport include those to Birmingham, Eindhoven and Madrid, Bremen, Glasgow and Munich West, Brussels Kerry, Oslo and Dublin, and Leeds and Porto. Other destinations served by Ryanair include Hahn, Glasgow-Prestwick, Liverpool, East Midlands, Bristol and London-Stansted.

Additional low-cost airline companies present at Faro Airport include Thomson Airways, Easyjet, Air Berlin, Germanwings, Monarch Airlines, Jet2.com and Thomas Cook Airlines. Some of the destinations served by these airline companies include London-Gatwick, Manchester, Munich, Palma de Mallorca, London-Luton, Belfast-International, Paris Orly and Newcastle upon Tyne. Other airline carriers serving Faro Airport are Lufthansa, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Air Transat, Aer Lingus, Bmibaby, Flybe and Luxair.

Faro Airport was established in 1966, and it was the airport’s construction that really boosted the tourism industry for the Algarve region. The airport provides a very convenient gateway to the south of Portugal, and serves a catchment area of roughly 540,000 inhabitants. This number includes the Huelva region just beyond the Spanish border, and the Algarve area. Within an hour of the airport, there are over 350,000 inhabitants. Faro Airport is well connected by roadway networks, and is also close by to the city’s train station. Holidaymakers from Spain and the United Kingdom in particular, come to the Algarve to enjoy the resorts and beaches. The Vilamoura and its marina are especially popular, as well as the Vale del Lobo beaches and the town of Lagos for its historical aspects.

The major developments for the airport of Faro over the years included the new passenger terminal building that was opened in 1989, and its enlargement in order to increase its capacity in 2001. The airport is currently capable of handling six million passengers per year. However, greater expansion and improvements are still in need for the airport, and a new development plan is already under way. The plan will include various stages of development until the year 2013, and will focus on increasing the airport’s capabilities of handling the growing demands in traffic, and passenger safety and satisfaction requirements. There will be work conducted on the airport’s existing runway, which is currently 2,490 meters in length, or 8,169 feet, with an asphalt surface, and attention will be given to the renovation of the passenger terminal and commercial areas. The terminal will be modernized and the commercial areas expanded. Airport parking will also be significantly increased. This development should increase Faro Airport’s capacity to eight million passengers per annum.

Faro Airport’s single terminal building handles all departures from the upstairs area, and check-in process and arrivals from the lower level, ground floor area. There are 22 aircraft stands at the airport, of which 16 are remote, and 60 check-in desks. Passengers will board at one of 36 gates. The terminal is accessible for disabled passengers, with ramps and lifts for easy movement to the upper level of the building, and there are adapted toilet facilities available. Reserved parking spaces are also located nearby the entrance of the airport. The Banco Totta e Acores provides services for all financial transactions, and ATMs are available throughout the terminal. Additional facilities include a bureau de change, postal services, a lost property desk and a reasonable range of retail outlets and restaurants. Duty free stores are also available. The conference room seating up to 65 delegates is another useful facility for business clients at Faro Airport.

The Air Transport Association (IATA) code for Faro Airport is FAO. Faro Airport is also identified as Faro We have provided the GPS location for Faro airport which are as follows 37.01444, -7.96583 to help either your arrival directions to Faro or perhaps give you directions from Faro Airport to your chosen destination.

Please find below a selection of Airlines, Destination and approx flight times from Faro Airport.

Here you can see the busiest Airlines that fly from Faro Airport are Ryanair, easyJet and Thomson amongst others. They cover 31 flight routes out the total of 34. The busiest which is Ryanair covers a total of 18 flights per week out of Faro Airport and goes to 15 destinations. Of all the destinations from Faro, Ryanair covers 20%. Ryanair airline offers flights to Dublin, East Midlands, Stansted and Birmingham International Airport among others.

You can see below a selection of nonstop flights covered from Faro Airport with approximate times

Many popular hire car companies are located at Faro airport and are situated either in the Arrivals lounge or very close by. You will need to present a valid driving licence and credit card if you intend to hire a vehicle at Faro airport. With so much choice of car rental at Faro airport it may be wise to book online before you arrive as there is limited choice of vehicles at certain times of the year.