On July 17 Faro Airport opened its newly extended and refurbished terminal building which offers larger public and operational areas and an enhanced retail space.
Inaugurated in 1965, Faro Airport is the main tourist airport in Portugal and serves the main tourist centers of southern Portugal and Spain. Last year its passenger numbers rose by 18.5%, to more than 7 million.
The airport says its €32.8 million investment has delivered greater capacity for processing passengers and aircraft.
The terminal was enlarged from 874,030sq ft (81,200m²) to 1,002,335sq ft (93,120m²) and a new security lane area has also been introduced. The expansion work has increased the building’s theoretical passenger embark / disembarkation rate from 2,400 to 3,000 people per hour and allows 30 aircraft movements per hour, instead of 24. The number of aircraft parking stands was increased from 30 to 37.