Fuerteventura Airport Guide for Visitors – by a Resident

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If you are planning a trip to the stunning island of Fuerteventura, located in the Canary Islands, you will be arriving at Fuerteventura Airport. As the only airport on the island, it’s an essential hub for tourists and locals, serving millions of passengers annually.

For those who haven’t visited Fuerteventura before, I have created this comprehensive guide to Fuerteventura Airport, designed to help you understand everything from the airport layout and transportation options to the shops and services available.

In this guide, we’ll cover the essential information you need to know before you arrive at Fuerteventura Airport, including what to expect during your arrival and departure processes.

fuerteventura airport fuerteventura flughafen

About Fuerteventura Airport

Fuerteventura airport is a nice airport, in my opinion, and I have been to quite a few airports around the world.

Fuerteventura airport is modern and large enough that there is always somewhere to sit and wait for your flight, even during busy periods.

Fuerteventura Airport has grown considerably in the past 50 years. The current airport opened in 1969, and the first holiday flight was with Condor from Dusseldorf. Since then, the terminal has undergone numerous updates and extensions.

Now, over 6 million passengers a year pass through Fuerteventura airport.

Funnily enough, I often get messages from people asking, “Which airport in Fuerteventura should I fly to if I am staying in xyz?” The answer to how many airports in Fuerteventura there are is that there is only one, which is used for both international and domestic flights.

The IATA Fuerteventura airport code is FUE airport and the ICAO code is GCFV.

Where is the airport in Fuerteventura?

Fuerteventura airport location FUE Complete Guide

Where is Fuerteventura airport? Fuerteventura Airport (FUE airport) is situated 3 miles south of the capital city, Puerto del Rosario, next to a small place called El Matorral. Fuerteventura Airport (FUE) is sometimes referred to as Puerto del Rosario Airport or El Matorral Airport.

The airport is built on the coast, so you can enjoy some nice sea views across the runway while waiting for your flight home in the new terminal building.

Fuerteventura Airport map

Fuerteventura Airport Map

Fuerteventura Airport arrivals area

After you have collected your luggage from the baggage claim area, leave via Exit A (there are generally no customs checks).

After exiting the baggage claim area, then:

Coach/shuttle transfers

If you are taking a coach transfer to your hotel or have booked a shuttle bus transfer, turn right when you come out of the baggage hall and head out of the doors at the end of the terminal building, where the coaches are parked.

If you are on a package tour, you will probably find representatives of your tour company before the exit doors of the Fuerteventura arrivals area, and you should report to them.

Taxis

If you are taking a taxi to your destination, the taxi rank is at the right-hand end of the terminal.

Buses

Buses stop outside the terminal. You will see the bus stop with the bus numbers on.

Car hire

If you are hiring a car, head left after coming out of the baggage claim area, and you will find the car hire desks there. During busy periods there can be large queues to get your hire car, particularly at some companies’ desks.

Once you have the car keys, head out of the nearest exit and take the stairs/lift opposite the service road, which will take you to the hire car parking area (the right-hand end of the car park).

Advice on hiring a car in Fuerteventura
Advice on driving in Fuerteventura and local driving laws

Car hire at Fuerteventura airport
Hire car desks at Fuerteventura airport

Fuerteventura Airport Transfers

Unless you want to walk (not recommended), you have a few options to get from Fuerteventura airport to your resort, assuming that you are not on a package that includes airport transfers by coach or are hiring a car at the airport.

Transfers from Fuerteventura airport to Corralejo

It would be best to take a shuttle bus or a taxi for transfers from Fuerteventura Airport to Corralejo with luggage.

The cheapest option would be to take a bus from Fuerteventura airport to Corralejo with heavy luggage. Still, you would need to change buses in Puerto del Rosario, and once you reach Corralejo, you would probably have a long walk to your hotel/accommodation.

Transfers from Fuerteventura airport to Caleta de Fuste

You can catch a bus to Caleta de Fuste, but the bus station is right on the edge of the resort, so you may have to walk and carry your suitcases quite a long way to your hotel or apartment.

A taxi is probably the best option if you are staying in Caleta. A taxi from Fuerteventura airport to Caleta de Fuste should cost less than €20 and will drop you off outside your accommodation.

Shuttle Bus/Minibus/Private Car

You can pre-book places on a shuttle bus, which will take you to the resort you are staying in and generally drop off around the various hotels. This is often quite a long journey, particularly if your hotel is at the end of the drop-off route. They will also pick you up at the end of your stay.

Booking a private transfer in a minibus is a much quicker option as they will take you straight to where you are staying. They are not too expensive either.

If you want to travel in luxury, you can book a luxury private car.

You can book any of these Fuerteventura airport transfer options through Shuttle Spain – just enter Fuerteventura airport as the pick-up point and either the resort or hotel name in the destination.

Taxi

Taxis are probably the most expensive option. The local government controls all taxis.

The very approximate cost, each way by taxi will be:

  • Corralejo €55-70
  • Caleta de Fuste €17-20
  • El Cotillo €80
  • Costa Calma €90-100
  • Morro Jable €100

Bus

The buses in Fuerteventura are quite reliable and inexpensive. However, depending on where you are going, it may take a long time as you may need to change buses more than once.

For example, to travel by bus from Fuerteventura airport to Corralejo or El Cotillo, you must change at the bus station in Puerto del Rosario, the capital.

Bus NumberRoute
3Puerto del Rosario – Caleta de Fuste (Salinas)
10Puerto del Rosario – Morro Jable
16Puerto del Rosario – Gran Tarajal
Bus routes that call in at Fuerteventura Airport

The routes and timetables can be found on the Tiadhe Bus Company website.

How far is it from Fuerteventura airport to:

The following distances are by road from Fuerteventura airport:

Airport toKms / MilesApproximate driving time
Corralejo40 kms / 25 miles33 minutes
El Cotillo46 kms / 28.5 miles41 minutes
Caleta de Fuste7.5 kms / 4.6 miles10 minutes
Costa Antigua6 kms / 5 miles8 minutes
Costa Calma65 kms / 40 miles55 minutes
Morro Jable84 kms / 52 miles70 minutes
Jandia77 kms / 48 miles64 minutes
La Pared61 kms / 38 miles55 minutes
Gran Tarajal41 kms / 25.5 miles35 minutes
Las Playitas44 kms / 27 miles38 minutes
Majanicho44 kms / 27 miles38 minutes

Fuerteventura Airport departures area

Fuerteventura airport departures area

On your return journey, if you arrive by coach from your accommodation, this will drop you off outside the Fuerteventura departures area. When you walk through the doors, there will be a large departures board in front of you that will tell you which check-in desk/s to head to for your flight.

If you have a hire car, you will find the entrance to the car hire parking on the left just after you enter the airport road system. Park in a space in your company’s area and make a note of the bay number. Then, hand in your keys at the office in the parking area or the terminal.

If you are travelling with only hand luggage and have your boarding pass, you can head straight to airport security on the other side of the check-in desks.

There is a Costa Coffee in the landside departures area if you need a (very expensive) coffee while you wait to check-in.

There are two sets of check-in desks. One is set to the far right of the terminal (desks 1 to 32), and the others are past Costa Coffee and the fish tank (desks 33 to 66).

fuerteventura airport departures
gate b fuerteventura airport
Sea views at Fuerteventura Airport from the departure lounge

You can get to the Fuerteventura airport security area by going through the check-in desks. When it is not busy, the entrance to the security area behind the check-in desks on the left-hand side (desks 33 to 66) is often closed. So you need to walk back past Costa Coffee and the large fish tank to the other security checkpoint entrance.

I have never seen large queues to get through security—at least not like the ones you can get at some airports in the UK and elsewhere.

Once you pass through airport security, you go up the escalators (or the lift) to the departure lounge, which covers the entire first floor of the terminal. Wi-fi is available in the departure lounge.

There are 24 boarding gates. At busy times, aircraft park on the apron away from the terminal, and buses take passengers to and from the aircraft/terminal.

Passport Control

If you are flying to the UK, now that it is no longer in the EU, to get to your gate, you will have to go to the far end of the terminal and go through Passport control. Once in this area, you cannot go back out.

All of these non-EU gates start with the letter “B”.

After passing through to the gate waiting area, you will find toilets, of course, but only one shop currently (Relay – Newspapers, magazines, books, snacks etc) and no restaurants (as of November 2023). If you want to eat before your flight, you must use one of the restaurants before passport control.

At the far end of this area is an outside terrace where smoking is allowed.

Fuerteventura airport shops and restaurants

fuerteventura airport shops in departure lounge

After airport security, you will find plenty of shops and restaurants once you go upstairs to the departure lounge. There are also several Fuerteventura airport food outlets.

Inevitably, you have to pass through the Duty-Free Shop when you get to the top of the escalators to get into the departure lounge – just as you do at almost every other airport in the world.

Fuerteventura Airport restaurants and shops include:

  • Duty-free shop
  • Coffee Republic
  • Burger King
  • Super Wild Coffee
  • Dehesa de Santa María (cafe)
  • Airport Cafe
  • Victoria’s Secret
  • Lava (Jewellery and accessories)
  • Sunglasses Hut
  • BE Zumm (fruit smoothies)
  • El Market Canarias
  • Iberico Experience (Spanish ham)
  • No Work Team
  • Dolcemania (Sweets, snacks etc)
  • Relay (Newspapers, magazines, books, snacks etc)
  • Ale-Hop
  • Crafts and Local Products

A small children’s play area is in the middle of the departure lounge.

There is also free wifi you can use in the departure lounge.

Can you smoke in Fuerteventura airport?

Smokers will be delighted to hear that there are three outside areas in the departure area where they can smoke after passing through airport security.

  • One Fuerteventura Airport smoking area is located at the southern end of the departure area.
  • Another is in the middle of the departure area, next to Burger King.
  • The other smoking area is located after you pass through passport control at the far end of the terminal.

They are all large terrace areas, so if you don’t smoke, you won’t be smoked out and can still use them to grab some last-minute rays to top up your tan while you wait for your flight.

You may wish to check out the smoking areas at UK airports.

smoking area fuerteventura airport
Entrance to one of the smoking area Fuerteventura airport

Does Fuerteventura Airport have a lounge?

Fuerteventura airport does have a small lounge called Jable VIP with tv, complimentary wifi, coffee, pastries etc.

It costs just over 30€ per adult as a one-off entry, although it is also valid if you have a Priority Pass membership or are flying Iberia Express business class.

It is located in the departure area at the end (the far left of the terminal when facing the sea).

I have used the lounge when flying business class, and apart from a bit of a walk to get to it, it is a pleasant space to wait in for your flight with unlimited coffee, drinks, pastries etc.

Fuerteventura Airport Video Tour

How long is the flight to Fuerteventura from the UK? Find out here.

One last thing, it is Fuerteventura, not Fuertaventura. It’s an easy mistake to make, as that is what it sounds like when most people say it.

Fuerteventura Airport Webcam

This live webcam is now available, showing all movements in and out of Fuerteventura airport.

FAQs

How long is the Fuerteventura runway?

Fuerteventura airport’s runway – 1/19 (010/190) is 11,175 feet long

When was Fuerteventura airport built?

The current airport opened in 1969, with the first international flight in 1973. There is only one terminal building.

Can you fly from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote?

There are no local flights from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote. You must catch a ferry from Corralejo to travel between the two islands. Inter Canary Islands flights go to Gran Canaria and Tenerife (South and North airports).

Is wifi available at Fuerteventura Airport?

There is a free wifi service at the airport and a faster, paid service if required.

What is the name of the airport in Fuerteventura?

It is mainly known as Fuerteventura Airport, but it can also be known as El Matorral Airport (the small town next to it) or Puerto del Rosario Airport (the capital of Fuerteventura 5 miles away).

Which airport do you fly to for Fuerteventura?

Fuerteventura has only one airport just south of the capital, Puerto del Rosario, so all flights arrive and depart there.

Are there 2 airports in Fuerteventura?

There is only one airport in Fuerteventura, located at El Matorral, just south of the capital, Puerto del Rosario. It serves both domestic and international flights.

Is there fast track at Fuerteventura airport?

There is no fast-track option at Fuerteventura airport security. However, there is rarely a large queue to pass through the security checkpoint. The largest queues are often at the check-in desks.

How many departure gates does Fuerteventura airport have?

There are 24 departure gates at Fuerteventura Airport, which serve domestic and international flights.

How many terminals does Fuerteventura airport have?

Fuerteventura airport only has one large terminal, with the arrivals area to the left and the departures area to the right. The departure lounge is on the second floor.

Summary

Conveniently located in the beautiful Canary Islands, Fuerteventura Airport (FUE) offers a seamless travel experience for both arrivals and departures.

When it comes to departures, Fuerteventura Airport provides a hassle-free journey. Everything is easy, from checking in at the modern and efficient airport terminal to catching your flight. The airport code for Fuerteventura is FUE, so remember it when searching for flight information or booking your tickets.

If you’re traveling to Corralejo, a popular tourist destination on the island, you may wonder about the taxi prices. The taxi fare from Fuerteventura Airport to Corralejo is reasonable and easily accessible.

For smokers, it’s essential to know if there are smoking areas in Fuerteventura Airport. Rest assured, the airport understands the needs of smokers, and designated smoking areas are available for those who wish to have a cigarette before their flight.

Flights to Fuerteventura Airport are frequent, allowing you to choose the best options for your travel preferences. Whether you’re flying in from another part of Europe or beyond, this airport provides connectivity.

Fuerteventura Airport ensures your journey is smooth and enjoyable with its departure and arrival services, efficient taxis, and amenities like smoking areas. Explore the vibrant island of Fuerteventura, starting with a stress-free experience at Fuerteventura Airport.

8 responses to “Fuerteventura Airport Guide for Visitors – by a Resident”

  1. Carmel avatar
    Carmel

    Thank you for information. As a vertigo sufferer I do not like escalators. Is there an option of stairs to departures. I think arrivals is on ground floor.
    .

    1. JP in Fuerteventura avatar
      JP in Fuerteventura

      There are certainly lifts you can use (as they are needed for passengers in wheelchairs). You are correct, arrivals is on the ground floor.

  2. Eva Kocianova avatar
    Eva Kocianova

    We left black leather man bag at departure near count 01 on 2/12/22. Would you please let me know if somebody can help or give me a contact for a lost properties. Kind regards Eva

    1. JP in Fuerteventura avatar
      JP in Fuerteventura

      You can try calling the lost and found desk – (+34) 928 862 555.

  3. G. avatar
    G.

    It would be good to know if you can pick a friend up at the airport or if you have to pay, where to park whilst waiting etc. after a brief scan it appears this article covers everything but that.

    1. JP in Fuerteventura avatar
      JP in Fuerteventura

      There is a pick up/drop off lane although that always seems to be full of parked cars. I did email the airport management complaining about that once but didn’t receive a reply (which is par for the course here). It is probably just as easy to park in the public car park which will cost less than a Euro for half an hour or so.

  4. Carl Williams avatar
    Carl Williams

    Hi JP, is it possible to drive to the terminal using the Taxi/Bus/Solo road to drop off a disabled passenger?

    1. JP in Fuerteventura avatar
      JP in Fuerteventura

      I used that lane when I went to pick up my brother who had limited mobility a few years ago so you should be ok as long as you don’t leave the car there

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