Gago Coutinho Airport, also called Faro International Airport, is a Portuguese airport owned by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal S.A., serving the city of Faro and the Algarve tourist region in southern Portugal. Located 4 km from the city of Faro in the Montenegro neighbourhood in the Algarve, the airport was opened on 11 July 1965.
The airport is the third largest port in Portugal in terms of traffic, after Humberto Delgado Airport and Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. The port was officially renamed Faro Airport, Aeroporto Gago Coutinho in June 2022. The port is used as an alternative port for private jet flights.
Portugal private jet charter prices
Although Gago Coutinho Airport air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Faro are as follows.
| Midsize Jet | 33.500 EUR |
| Heavy Jet | 41.550 EUR |
| Long Range Jet | 62.300 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
History of Faro Airport
Located on the south coast of Portugal, the airport was built in the 1960s and opened in 1965. The concession to support civil aviation at the airport, together with the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada, Santa Maria, Horta, Flores, Madeira and Porto Santo, was awarded to ANA Aeroportos de Portugal on 18 December 1998 under the terms of Decree 404/98. With this concession, ANA became responsible for the planning, development and construction of future infrastructure.
From its inauguration in 1966 until the 2000s, Faro airport experienced two major developments: The new passenger terminal building in 1989 and the expansion in 2001. In response to increasing traffic demand and the needs for passenger safety and satisfaction, the 2009-2013 development plan foresees extensive improvements to the runway and infrastructure at Faro airport, as well as a comprehensive renovation of the airport terminal and commercial areas. The airport authority announced an expansion programme for Faro airport in February 2010. Phase I of the expansion started in 2010 and was completed in 2011. Phase II started in 2011 and was completed in 2013. When Phase II expansion was completed, the airport’s annual capacity increased from six million to eight million passengers. Additional shops and waiting areas were built as part of the expansion. In Phase I, it was planned to build new aircraft stops and taxiways. A new instrument landing system (ILS) and a glide reflection mirror were installed on the runway. The safety area on the runway was also completed in Phase I. Phase II included the refurbishment of the passenger terminal and the improvement of landside access.
In June 2022, it was announced that the airport would be named after Gago Coutinho, in honour of the sailor and admiral who, together with aviator Sacadura Cabral, made the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic in 1922 in the seaplane Lusitânia, Portugal’s name in the Roman Empire. This name became official in September 2022. In the same year, the commissioning of a 3MWp solar power plant was announced, which will generate 30% of the airport’s electricity needs and reduce CO2 emissions by more than 1,500 tonnes per year.
Top places to visit in Faro
Faro, located in the Algarve region of Portugal, is one of the most famous tourist spots in Portugal. The prominent tourist attractions in the city are as follows:
Faro Cathedral, one of the oldest historical buildings in the country, Jardim da Alameda Gardens, known as the quietest and calmest point of the city, Faro Municipal Museum (Museu Arqueologico Faro), which reveals the deep-rooted history of the country and contains different artefacts, Children’s Life Science Centre (Algarve Life Science Centre), which was established to increase children’s interest in science, 18. Igreja do Carmo Church, which has survived from the 18th century to the present day, Almirante Maritime Museum with important ethnographic items from the Faro region, Arco da Vila, one of the most beautiful monuments in the region, and Old Queen Square (Jardim Manuel Bivar), which is considered the centre of the city.
Faro airport information
The airport is located along the Algarve and close to the A22 motorway with direct links to Lisbon and Spain. You can reach the city centre within 20 minutes by following the A22 motorway from the port exit.
Airport bus services numbered 14 and 16 run daily between Faro Airport and Faro city centre bus terminal. From the bus station there are connections to most other Portuguese cities and many Spanish destinations. The airport bus route is operated by a company called “Proximo”.
Taxis outside the port are available 24 hours a day and there is generally no problem finding a taxi. For private car hire, the car hire offices located inside the airport can be used as an alternative.
