Portugal’s national airport authority reported a record total of just over nine million passengers travelling through Faro Airport last year.
ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal attributed this new milestone (in 2018, the airport welcomed 8,685,571 passengers on commercial flights) to synergies between partners, entities and the airport community which “highlight a daily commitment to improving air travel links with the Algarve region and providing quality passenger services”.
This record figure represented an traffic increase of one million passengers between 2017 and 2019.
According to ANA, investments were made by the authority (which manages operations at Faro and other airports in Portugal) to reduce waiting times for boarding and arrivals and undertake ongoing refurbishments of the terminals. ANA also works closely with other authorities to promote and enhance the region’s tourist development.
The number of monthly commercial flights at Faro Airport ranges from just under 7,000 in each of June, July and August to (according to the latest figures available) 2,058 in December 2019. Fourteen countries are serviced by the airport, led by the UK (25 routes), Germany (21) and France (15).
Thirty airlines operate in and out of Faro, with Ryanair and EasyJet way ahead of their main competitors: 23 and 19 routes, respectively (plus EasyJet Europe with seven). Jet2 is next with five routes.
Winter Attractions on the Algarve
Passengers travelling into Faro Airport this winter will already be able to enjoy some of the Algarve region’s popular festivals.
The “Festival das Amendoeiras em Flor”, held on 1-2 February (9am to 8pm), showcases the region’s almond tree blossoms in Alta Mora and Castro Marim.
The festival combines nature with culture and gastronomy, including a traditional agenda of walks through valleys, streams and mountain areas that are rich with the region’s almond-tree heritage. It also provides visitors with the opportunity of visiting the local produce market and viewing re-enactments, arts and crafts from times gone by.
Other attractions include street entertainment, theatre, traditional Portuguese music (fado and folklore), games, and bread, goat cheese and almond plantation workshops.
If you are interested in visiting other events during your low-season stay, check out the full “365 Algarve” cultural program” here.
For comprehensive information about flights at Faro Airport, click here.