Faro International Airport – FAO
Faro International Airport, found about four kilometers from western Faro, Portugal, is a public international airport that opened way back in July 1965. The airport is owned and operated by the ANA Aeroportos de Portugal and serves the city of Faro in Algarve. Its IATA airport code is FAO, while its ICAO code is LPFR.
Best Time to Visit
With over 30 boarding gates and 60 check-in desks, FAO-Faro International Airport can handle up to six million passengers annually. The airport underwent major developments in 1989 when the new passenger terminal was built. The building was then expanded in 2001 to accommodate more passengers. There is only one runway in the area, an asphalt-covered track running to 8,169 meters. FAO is used by over 30 airlines, most of which are traveling to various parts of Europe. Despite this traffic, the airport wasn’t an aircraft hub up until March 2010 when the Ryanair airlines based seven airplanes at the site. Make sure to drop by the cities of Vale de Santa Maria, Aldeia das Acoteias, and Praia da Gale when you’re coming in from FAO.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Right outside of the airport are the affordable hotels of Hotel Aeromar, Hotel 3k Faro Aeroporto, and the Hotel Faro & Beach Club. These hotels are only within five minutes from the airport.
A forty-five-minute drive from Faro International Airport is the small airport of Algarve, PRM-Portimao Airport. This public airport serves Portimao city and has only one airline landing at the site.