Madeira airport (FNC): arrivals, wind, transfers and the famous runway
A practical guide to Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport: where it is, the runway built on columns over the sea, why wind diverts flights, how to get to Funchal and what to know when you arrive and leave.
Madeira airport right now
Full forecastMadeira has one main airport: Madeira International Airport Cristiano Ronaldo, code FNC. It sits on the east coast near Santa Cruz, about 13 km from Funchal in a straight line and 20 km by road. In 2025 it handled about 5.4 million passengers, a record and more than double the 2.4 million of 2006.
The card above shows today’s weather in Funchal and the latest official wind reading from the airport, with a plain guide to what it means for landings.
The runway on columns
Madeira’s runway is one of the most remarkable in Europe. The island has almost no flat land, so when the runway was extended in 2000 to its current 2,781 metres, a large section was built out over the shore on 180 concrete columns, each about 70 metres tall. The coast road and a car park run underneath. The structure won the IABSE Outstanding Structure Award in 2004.
Before the extensions the runway was much shorter and landings had a fearsome reputation. Today the airport is safe and well equipped, but pilots still need extra training to fly here, because of the mountains close to the runway and the gusty wind that comes with them.
Why the wind matters
On most days you won’t notice anything. On some days, mostly from November to March and more often in the afternoon, strong gusty wind from the north or north-east makes landing unsafe, and planes circle, wait or divert. As a rough guide, problems start at around 15 knots of wind with gusts of 25 knots from an unfavourable direction.
Diverted flights usually go to Porto Santo, 15 minutes away, and come back when the wind drops. Others go to Lisbon, Porto, Faro or the Canary Islands. Read why flights divert and your rights and, if you are flying on a windy day, keep your phone charged and your airline’s app open.
Arriving
- Getting off the plane: there are no air bridges. You walk across the apron or take a bus to the terminal, so have a jacket handy on a windy day.
- Passport control: travellers from outside the Schengen area, including the UK, go through passport control. Expect queues when several flights land together.
- In the arrivals hall: car hire desks, cash machines, cafés and taxi and transfer meeting points. Most hire companies are in the hall or a short walk away.
- Mobile data: EU roaming works as at home. If you need a local SIM or eSIM, see mobile internet in Madeira.
Getting to Funchal and around the island
| Option | Time to Funchal | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Airport bus (SAM) | 30 to 45 minutes | The cheapest option, with room for luggage. Roughly hourly in the day, fewer in the evening. |
| Taxi | 20 to 30 minutes | Usually €30 to €40 to Funchal, more at night, at weekends and with extra luggage. |
| Uber and Bolt | 20 to 30 minutes | Often a little cheaper than a taxi, dearer at busy times. |
| Pre-booked transfer | 20 to 30 minutes | Useful with children, late at night or if you are staying far from Funchal. |
| Hire car | 20 to 30 minutes | Best if you are staying outside Funchal. Parking in the city centre is hard. |
From the airport, Machico is about 10 minutes away, Caniço 15, and Ponta do Sol and Calheta 45 to 60. All the details are in getting from the airport to Funchal, and there is advice on hiring a car and driving in Madeira.
Leaving
- Arrive about two hours before an international flight. The terminal is compact, but security and passport control can be slow when many flights leave together.
- On a windy day, check your flight before you set off. Departures are affected far less than arrivals, but an inbound plane that diverted means a late departure.
- Return hire cars with time to spare: the rental car parks are close to the terminal, but traffic on the expressway builds up around Funchal at rush hour.
- Bought a bottle of Madeira wine or poncha? Put it in your checked bag, or buy it after security.
Flying on to Porto Santo
Porto Santo, the neighbouring island with the long golden beach, is a flight of about 15 minutes from Madeira airport. The alternative is the Lobo Marinho ferry from Funchal, which takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. See the Porto Santo ferry and our Porto Santo guide.
Watching the planes land
Landings over the sea are a spectacle in themselves. Plane spotters like the viewpoints on the Machico side of the airport, at the end of the runway, and the Pico do Facho viewpoint above Machico, which looks over the whole bay. On a windy afternoon you may see planes try more than once before they land.
Quick answers
What is the airport code? FNC. Porto Santo’s is PXO.
Is landing in Madeira dangerous? No. The approach is demanding, which is why pilots train for it, and when the wind is too strong they wait or divert rather than take a risk.
How far is the airport from Funchal? About 20 km, 20 to 30 minutes by road.
Why is it named after Cristiano Ronaldo? The footballer was born in Funchal. The airport took his name in 2017. Read more about Cristiano Ronaldo’s Madeira.
Sources: ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, Madeira airport, DNOTICIAS.PT, airport passengers in 2025 (ANA data via DREM)