Faro Airport

FAO originated in the 1960s, officially opening in 1965 under the ownership of the Portuguese government. A new terminal building opened in 1989 and was later expanded in 2001. In 1998, the Portuguese government granted operational rights to airport authority ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, making it responsible for the planning and development of the airport. As a result, the airport was expanded from 2009 to 2013. This included new aircraft stands and taxiways, a new instrument landing system, an expansion of the security section of the runway, the renovation of the passenger terminal and the improvement of landside access, the increase of aircraft parking bays from 22 to 33, and the construction of additional shops and waiting areas.
Moreover, by the end of the expansion plan, the airport was capable of servicing 8 million annual passengers, which increased to 9 million passengers by 2019, with 36 gates and 22 stands (16 remote). Moreover, during the 2010s, the Vinci Group assumed ownership of the airport. In addition, two announcements were made in September 2022. One was to commission a solar power plant that could produce 30% of the airport’s electricity needs (thereby reducing CO2 emissions by more than 1,500 tonnes per year). The other was the renaming of the airport as “Gago Coutinho Airport” in honor of the navigator and admiral who (together with aviator Sacadura Cabral) completed the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic in 1922 via the seaplane Lusitânia, which was the Roman Empire name for the land that would later become Portugal.

The airport is located two nautical miles west of Faro.

• For those traveling by bicycle, the airport has three assembly areas for bikes, one in Departures and two in Arrivals. 
• FAO features the premium CIP Lounge, with free WiFi, snacks, beverages, and more. 
• The FBOs at FAO are OMNI Handling, WEXJET, Sky Valet, Safeport Executive, and Servicair Portugal.