IATA code · FAOAlgarve · Portugal

Faro Airport

Faro Airport (FAO) is the gateway to the Algarve, Portugal's sunny southern coast. A single terminal just 4 km from Faro, it handled over 10 million passengers in 2025 and serves resorts from Albufeira to Lagos with low-cost flights across Europe.

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In numbers

Faro Airport at a glance

Official name
Gago Coutinho
IATA / ICAO
FAO / LPFR
Operator
ANA (Vinci Airports)
Opened
1965
Distance to city
4 km from Faro
Passengers
over 10 million
Elevation
7 m above sea level
Runway
10/28, 2,490 m
Services and transport

Leave the airport and explore the Algarve

Four practical ways to reach your destination from Faro Airport. Compare fares and book online in advance.

Most flexible

Car rental

On-airport desks in the arrivals hall, free cancellation and no-deposit models. Ideal to explore the Algarve at your own pace, from EUR 15/day in low season.

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Taxi and transfer

Official taxi rank outside arrivals or a fixed-price private transfer. Faro city from EUR 12, Albufeira from EUR 32, Lagos from EUR 72.

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Parking

Official ANA car parks P1 and P2 by the terminal, plus low-cost private lots with shuttle. Book online to save on longer stays.

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Flights and times

Check arrivals and departures in real time. Follow delays and gates before you travel, with the live Avionio board.

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Flight board

Live flights at Faro Airport

Follow arrivals and departures at Faro Airport in real time. Data provided by Avionio, updated continuously.

Open the dedicated pages: Arrivals and Departures.

History and development

Faro Airport opened in July 1965 to serve the fast-growing tourism of the Algarve. Within a decade it had become one of Portugal's busiest airports, carrying holidaymakers from the United Kingdom, Germany and the Nordic countries to the southern coast.

A new passenger terminal opened in 1989 and has been enlarged several times, most recently during the 2010 to 2013 expansion under ANA and Vinci Airports. In 2022 the airport was renamed after the Portuguese aviation pioneer Gago Coutinho.

Faro Airport is now Portugal's third-busiest airport after Lisbon and Porto, with over 10 million passengers in 2025. Ryanair operates a base here, alongside easyJet, Jet2 and TUI. Traffic is strongly seasonal, peaking between June and September. Airlines operating regularly at the airport:

  • Ryanair
  • easyJet
  • Jet2.com
  • TUI Airways
  • TAP Air Portugal
  • British Airways
  • Wizz Air
  • Eurowings
  • Lufthansa
  • Transavia
  • Aer Lingus
  • KLM
  • Vueling
  • Norwegian
  • SAS
  • Finnair
  • Brussels Airlines
  • Condor
Faro Airport passenger terminal exterior in warm morning light
The single terminal handles all flights, 4 km from Faro city.

How to reach Faro and the Algarve resorts

Faro Airport sits 4 km west of Faro, with fast access to the A22 motorway that runs the length of the Algarve. There is no rail link to the airport itself, but four options connect it to the city and the coastal resorts.

ModeDestinationDurationPriceFrequency
City bus (line 16)Faro centreabout 20 minfrom EUR 2.45every 20-60 min
TaxiFaro and Algarvefrom 8 minFaro EUR 1124 hours
Private transferAll resortsfrom 8 minFaro from EUR 12on booking
Car rentalAll Algarveimmediatefrom EUR 15/dayon-airport desks

The public airport bus (Proximo line 16) runs to Faro city centre; long-distance Vamus Algarve coaches and the regional train leave from central Faro, not the airport. To reach resorts such as Albufeira, Lagos or Vilamoura directly, a rental car is the most convenient choice, while a taxi or private transfer drops you at your exact address.

Taxi rank and pick-up area outside Faro Airport arrivals
The official taxi rank is right outside the arrivals exit.

Terminal and services

Faro Airport has a single passenger terminal over two levels, with departures and arrivals both on the ground floor. It has 60 check-in desks and 36 boarding gates, and stays easy to navigate even at peak times.

In summer the terminal is busy with charter and low-cost flights, so signage and information points help you find your way. Rental car desks are grouped in the arrivals hall, before security.

  • Free VINCI Airports WiFi throughout the terminal
  • Duty-free shops, cafes and restaurants
  • Car rental desks in the arrivals hall
  • ATMs, currency exchange and information desk
  • Two lounges and assistance for reduced mobility

For a summer flight from Faro Airport, arrive 2 hours before a Schengen flight and 3 hours before a UK or non-Schengen flight: peak-season queues at security and passport control can be long.

Check-in hall inside Faro Airport terminal
The single terminal groups check-in, security and gates.

Parking at the airport

Compare the official ANA car parks by the terminal with low-cost private lots nearby. Booking online in advance is usually cheaper for longer stays.

See parking tariffs

Explore the Algarve by car

From the beaches of Albufeira to the cliffs of Lagos and the old towns of Tavira and Silves, a rental car picked up at the terminal lets you discover the Algarve at your own pace, from EUR 15/day in low season.

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Frequently asked questions about Faro Airport

Where is Faro Airport located?

Faro Airport (FAO) is 4 km west of Faro, in the Algarve, southern Portugal. The drive into the city takes about 8 minutes by taxi or 20 minutes on the Proximo line 16 bus. It has direct A22 motorway access to the whole Algarve coast.

How many terminals does the airport have?

Faro Airport has a single passenger terminal over two levels, with both departures and arrivals on the ground floor. It handles all domestic and international flights and is run by ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, part of Vinci Airports.

How do I get from the airport to Faro city?

A taxi from Faro Airport to the city centre costs about EUR 11 for an 8-minute ride. The Proximo line 16 bus runs the same route in about 20 minutes for around EUR 2.45, cash only. Car rental is the most flexible option to explore the Algarve.

When is the best time to fly to Faro?

Traffic at Faro Airport peaks in July and August, with the highest fares and busiest terminal. May, June and September offer a good balance of weather and price. Winter is much quieter, with fewer flights but the lowest car rental rates.

Is there parking at Faro Airport?

Yes, Faro Airport has official ANA car parks P1 (departures) and P2 (arrivals) by the terminal, plus a free 10-minute kiss and fly drop-off. Nearby private lots with shuttle start from about EUR 5 per day when booked online, cheaper for longer stays.

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