Gibraltar International Airport

Gibraltar International Airport is among the few airports on Earth whose runway crosses a major road. The traffic on Winston Churchill Avenue must come to a standstill whenever a plane takes off or lands, but an underground tunnel - currently under construction - will eventually end this problem. By September 2012, all flights are expected to take off from a brand new terminal.

Gibraltar International Airport’s only non-stop flights are to UK cities. British Airways, EasyJet, and Monarch offer non-stop flights to London (Heathrow, Luton and Gatwick), while Monarch also offers non-stop flights to Manchester. Passengers wishing to fly to Spain must use Jerez Airport or the larger Malaga Airport in Spain.

Club Class passengers receive complimentary newspapers and cocktails at the Peninsula Lounge, but drinks are also served with cold and hot snacks at the Departures and Upper Level lounges. The airport has two cafés and duty-free shops in both terminals.

Avis, Europcar, and two local companies named Nisa and Auriga have car rental at the airport. Visitors taking cabs directly to Gibraltar can pick one up directly outside the terminal building, but those headed for Spain must walk across the border to another taxi stand to the right of the airport. Tour buses also stop regularly at the airport, as well as Gibraltar’s public bus line. Passengers headed to Spain by bus must make a brief walk across the border for connections to nearby cities and resorts in southern Spain.

Malaga Airport, Spain

This three-terminal airport is the most popular alternative air arrival point to Gibraltar. A three hour bus ride from downtown, only a few lines make the daily trip. As Spain’s third largest airport, it has a wide selection of flights, including seasonal connections to New York-JFK and Toronto, as well as year-round trips to Montreal. Alternatively North American passengers can connect via a major European airport such as those in London, Paris or Amsterdam. Car rental, public buses, trains, and taxis all serve the airport, which has all the usual facilities including gift shops, eateries, showers, and duty-free.