Photos

Funchal airport is actually situated about an hours drive from the capital , Funchal . It is called Santa Caterina and is quite near to Santa Cruz on the eastern side of Madeira .
As you approach the island you travel over Sao Laurences a barren and brown looking rocky headland that tapers out a fair way into the Atlantic Ocean. From here you glimpse Machico , the old capital of the island .

Before you have time to get your breath you are banking over, and dropping at considerable speed to approach the runway . This runway was extended over the sea in order to accomodate the larger holiday airplanes . It is supported by massive pillars which on one of our trips we rode through whilst travelling under the runway . Fascinating .
Now although large aircraft are able to land here most of the time , at certain times during the winter this airport still has to be closed to them . The high winds and storms which can attack the island can mean it is closed at short notice . This can result in flights being diverted to Porto Santo , The Canary Islands or even Lisbon . This usually happens in January or February .

courtesy
A review by grafter123 on Funchal Airport (FNC)
January 1st, 2007