The current airport in El Matorral celebrates it's 50th birthday tomorrow. The previous airport was in Los Estancos.
The first flight came in from Las Palmas, and in 1973 the first European flights arrived. The present terminal building opened in 1994 and was extended in 2006. The airport employs 2,300 people, and 46 airlines from 102 destinations use it.
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The history of Fuerteventura airports is interesting.
The airport at Los Estancos was small and could only take small planes. International flights went to Arricife and passengers were brought to Fuerteventura on a shuttle flight. The Tetir road crossed the runway and there used to have to be a soldier stopping traffic with a red flag when a plane needed to use it. The old terminal building is still there, now part of the technology park.
Before that the airport was an ex-military airfield at Tefia. It was abandoned because the strong cross winds there made it dangerous. (See also the story of the paratroops who were killed there by those winds)
Here’s a photo of the airport which was probably taken in the mid 1980’s.
In those days, baggage reclaim was a tractor arriving at the front of the airport with trailers in tow loaded up with suitcases. You just helped yourself. For faster than now.
(16-09-2019, 05:01 PM)Tardis Wrote: Here’s a photo of the airport which was probably taken in the mid 1980’s.
In those days, baggage reclaim was a tractor arriving at the front of the airport with trailers in tow loaded up with suitcases. You just helped yourself. For faster than now.
Still the same on some of the smaller islands, experienced this on La Gomera and El Hierro a couple of years ago.
Thanks for the pics - I'm fascinated by old pics.
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(13-09-2019, 03:05 PM)Sam Wrote: And without the airport we would never discover this gem in the middle of the ocean.
Seriously. Is here anyone who came to Fuerteventura having a cruise holiday from Southampton (or elsewhere) and immediately felt in love with the island?
Not quite. I came by ferry from Lanzorote on a day trip. Quickly decided it is the best Canary Island, and that I would retire here. Next visit was in 2017, to buy my apartment.
(13-09-2019, 03:05 PM)Sam Wrote: And without the airport we would never discover this gem in the middle of the ocean.
Seriously. Is here anyone who came to Fuerteventura having a cruise holiday from Southampton (or elsewhere) and immediately felt in love with the island?
I know this is an older thread - I hope it still has some life in it! I was on holiday in Lanzarote when I came here on a day trip some 15 years or so ago. Having holidayed on the 3 large islands several times, it was my first trip here. I quickly formed the opinion that it was the best of the Canaries, and I was going to retire here. My next visit was in January '17, to start looking for my retirement home. By May that year, I'd bought my apartment in Antigua, and apart from trips back to Blighty, I've been here ever since.
So yep Sam, not a cruise holiday, but the ferry from Playa Blanca, and back the same day. That was enough for me. You might think that sounds impulsive, but I like to think it was decisive!
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