Arrecife Airport Lanzarote
T1 Arrecife International terminal
This modern building was built in 1999 as an upgrade from the original airport building which became too over-crowded due to the growth of tourism on Lanzarote. The terminal is light and airy and been finished to a high standard including marble flooring and some lovely images taken in Lanzarote, displayed in the arrival and departure areas. There is a large car park on the upper departure level, parking is free for the first 30 minutes.
Arrivals – The arrivals hall has standard carousels where all the luggage and oversized luggage arrives to passengers. There are a number of car hire booths and an information office, in case of any lost luggage. Once you leave the departure hall , there is a small cafe down to the left and a taxi rank just outside. When driving out of the airport, you will pass a new petrol station on the roundabout, then you will drive onto the duel carriageway, either heading North in the direction Arrecife, or South in the direction of Yaiza.
Departures – Having checked in and passed through security control, you will enter the departures lounge. Located in this area. there are over 20 duty free shops including a dedicated shop for César Manrique souvenirs where you are able to buy from his unique collection items such as books, prints, and jewellery. Other shops include a toy shop, newsagents, clothes, shoes and cafes. There are also food franchises such as Burger King and Pizza Hut, where you can sit outside and enjoy some last minute sunshine. There is a VIP Lounge called “Guacimeta” located between gates 8 and 9. For just 18.55 Euros, you are welcome to enjoy quiet relaxation, away from the hustle and bustle of the departure lounge. You have magnificent views overlooking the runway, watching the planes arrive and depart over the sparkling Atlantic Ocean.
T2 Arrecife Inter Island Terminal
This terminal is a mini version of the new international one. It services flights exclusively to the other Canary Islands. There is a cafe and shop in the main building but no amenities once you have passed through the departure control. You are able to find relatively cheap flights to visit the neighbouring Canary Islands, the flights run frequently throughout the day. The entire group of 7 islands are within one hour of each other by air and many local Canarian people make the most of their proximity by choosing other islands as their main holiday destination.
Arrecife Airport History
The original Arrecife Airport was built in the 1930s, when there became a need for an airport to connect Lanzarote to the other Canary Islands, the mainland of Spain, as well as a refueling point for aircraft. The first aircraft to land at Arrecife airport was a Junkers JU52 EC-DAM on the 24th July 1941. This triggered the Spanish Air Force to see a need for a permanent airport in Lanzarote for the interests of defense.
In the beginning of 1946, the airport started to accept civil planes, improvements were made on existing facilities including extending the runway. By 1970, International flights began using the airport where a passenger terminal and a control centre had been added. By 1999, passenger numbers had grown to 6 million passengers per year leading to an upgraded, larger passenger terminal now called T1, The original Arrecife passenger terminal was revamped and is now used as an inter island terminal called T2.
Aviation Museum at Arrecife Airport
In 2002, a museum at Arrecife Airport was opened. “Aena” decided to use the original “Guacimeta” passenger terminal and transformed it to an aviation museum, where you are able to see the heritage of the airport. This Museum is the proud owner of a mural created by Caesar Manrique entitled ‘Lanzarote’ The museum provides a detailed insight into the history of aviation on the Island of Lanzarote. The Arrecife Aviation Museum opens from 10am to 2pm daily except Monday when it is closed. A tour is available if there is sufficient interest.
