Madeira Airport (FNC) Information
(Madeira, Portugal)
The wine-rich Madeira island chain is found off the Portuguese coast. Tourists who fly to the archipelago will arrive into its main gateway, Madeira Airport. It is situated only 15 minutes from the city of Funchal, which is the capital of the region. The airport welcomes more than two million people annually and has been operating since its establishment in 1964.
The terminal is a unique structure that sits predominantly underneath the ground. Within the building, there are about 40 check-in desks and over a dozen gates for boarding. There are no air bridges found at the terminal, meaning that passengers still have to walk a short distance to their plane when boarding.
The busiest routes available for passengers are flights to
Lisbon,
London and
Porto. These routes are served by several airlines, including TAP Portugal and EasyJet. Of note, the facility has been regarded as one of the world's most dangerous airports, since pilots have to compete with the coastline and mountains for landing. However, no accidents have occurred in recent years and in fact, the last major incident was back in the 1970s.
Madeira Airport (FNC)
Address: Acesso ao Aeroporto Internacional do Funchal, Santa Cruz, 9100-105, Madeira, Portugal
Tel: +351 291 520 70
Madeira Airport is located 17 km / 11 miles to the north-east of Funchal. Apart from the island's capital city, notable locations close by include those of Agua de Pena, Canical, Gaula, Machico, Quinta, Santa Cruz, Santa Luzia and Sao Martinho. The facility rests upon the ER-101, which is the island's largest highway. It connects passengers to towns and cities along the coastline, including Funchal, Santa Cruz and Machico.
Madeira Airport (FNC) Guide
Facilities:
- Information desks
- Travel agencies
- Currency exchange desks
- Banking facilities located within the terminal
- Restaurants and beverage spots
- Seven car hire organisations including Avis, Hertz, Rodavante, Auto Jardim and Guerin
- Parking is available in seven different areas outside the terminal
- Level 1 contains medical staff who can deal with accidents or emergencies
- Several areas of the terminal offer wireless Internet
- Tourist information desk on Level 0
Cars
Travelling along the ER-101 is the easiest way to access the downtown area of Funchal from the terminal. It takes motorists about 10 to 15 minutes to reach Madeira's airport from the city centre - in good traffic conditions. Drivers can reach the ER-101 by taking Exit 11, while parking garages are located within close proximity of the terminal.
Buses
There are two different buses providing shuttle services to the city centre. The city buses usually begin at downtown Funchal then pass by the airport before reaching Machico. Aerobuses offer a more expensive option, making a variety of stops along the way to the city and connecting some of the best hotels in Funchal. Major bus stations along this route include Marina Shopping, the Avenida Infante and also the Estrada Monumental.
Taxis
On the ground level of the terminal, Madeira Airport's taxi rank can be found just outside the terminal exit. The service is operated and run by the AIRTRAM group. Fares are reasonably priced.
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