Malaga Airport
Malaga Airport is the southernmost airport in Continental Europe and is located just 8kms west of the centre of Malaga itself, next to the main A7 motorway. It is the fourth busiest airport in Spain, behind Madrid, Barcelona and Majorca, and Aena (the Spanish state-owned company which owns and manages all of Spain’s airports) reported that over 12,800,000 passengers passed through it, and that it operated almost 120,000 flights during the year 2008.
With flight connections to more than 60 destinations all around the world, the airport has seen considerable expansion as the number of travellers has increased. With two terminals currently in use, plans are already underway for the construction of a third one, as well as a further runway. The two existing terminals are interconnected and 90% of passengers arrive at Terminal 2.
Having already seen much internal improvement, the airport building offers an excellent range of facilities and now even boasts its own exhibition hall, which displays the works of some of the well-known artists from the region. In addition, you will also find an airport museum in the original terminal, which is some 10 minutes’ walk away.
Where do UK flights to Malaga operate from?
Flights to Malaga arrive from over 120 airports all around the world, many of which are in the UK and Ireland. To follow, you will find a handy table which shows each of the UK and Irish airports which operates regular flights to Malaga, along with the operating airline.
| Airport | Operating Airlines |
| Aberdeen | flyglobespan |
| Belfast | Thomson Flights, Aer Lingus, easyJet, Sun-Air |
| Birmingham | Bmibaby, flythomascook.com, Monarch, Thomson Flights, Ryanair |
| Bournemouth | Thomson Flights, Ryanair |
| Blackpool | Jet2.com |
| Bristol | Thomson Flights, easyJet, Sun-Air |
| Cardiff | Bmibaby, Thomson Flights |
| Cork | Aer Lingus |
| Doncaster | Thomson Flights |
| Dublin | Thomson Flights, Aer Lingus, Ryanair |
| East Midlands | Bmibaby, Thomson Flights, easyJet, Ryanair, Sun-Air |
| Edinburgh | Flyglobespan, Ryanair |
| Exeter | Flybe, Thomson Flights |
| Gatwick | British Airways, flythomascook.com, Monarch, Thomson Flights, Aer Lingus, easyJet, Sun-Air |
| Glasgow | Flyglobespan, flythomascook.com, Thomson Flights, easyJet, Sun-Air |
| Glasgow Prestwick | Ryanair |
| Heathrow | British Airways |
| Knock | Thomson Flights, Aer Lingus, Ryanair |
| Leeds | flythomascook.com, Jet2.com |
| Liverpool | easyJet, Ryanair, Sun-Air |
| Luton | flythomascook.com, Monarch, Thomson Flights, easyJet, Sun-Air |
| Manchester | Bmibaby, flythomascook.com, Monarch, Thomson Flights, Jet2.com, easyJet, Sun-Air |
| Newcastle | flythomascook.com, Thomson Flights, Jet2.com, easyJet, Sun-Air |
| Nottingham | Bmibaby, Thomson Flights, easyJet, Ryanair, Sun-Air |
| Shannon | Ryanair |
| Southampton | Flybe |
| Stansted | easyJet, Ryanair, Sun-Air |
Facilities at Malaga Airport
As you might imagine for an airport of this size, the facilities available are very comprehensive, and you can read much more about these below.
Car hire
Although a large number of car hire companies operate from Malaga Airport, ten of them have a desk within the terminal building. These are:
- Auriga Crown
- Autos Lido
- Avis
- Europcar
- Goldcar
- Hertz
- National Atesa
- Record
- Sixt
- Solmar
Of the remaining car rental firms, the majority are situated on the Avenida Garcia Marato, a slip road which runs adjacent to the main approach road to the airport.
It is worth noting that the prices offered by this vast range of companies vary considerably, so it is worth shopping around, either when you get there, or on the Internet before you leave. Also bear in mind that each company has its own procedure for returning a vehicle, so always make sure that you read your instructions carefully.
Taxis at Malaga Airport
You can find the taxi rank at Malaga Airport to your right as you exit the arrivals hall. Before you get into one, however, always make sure that you agree a price with the driver as they do not operate on a meter system. The driver should carry a book which lists the fares to various destinations, so if the fare quoted seems a little steep, you can always ask to check out what he should be charging. It is also worth noting that the airport taxis only take a maximum of 4 people, including children.
Buses and trains from the airport
The train services from Malaga Airport run from the opposite side of the road to the terminal and will take you into the centre of Malaga. The trains are known for always running on time and being extremely clean, and so offer an excellent alternative to a taxi journey.
The bus stops at Malaga Airport are to your right as you exit the arrivals hall and from here you can travel direct to Malaga City Bus Station. You need to pay the bus driver as you board, and again this offers a cheap alternative to the taxi service.
Airport shops
You will find a range of shops at Malaga Airport, selling everything from fine foods, designer clothes, toys and gifts to CDs and electrical equipment. In addition, there is a chemist and five duty free shops which sell a wide range of perfumes, sunglasses, watches, tobacco, food and gifts.
Airport restaurants
There is a good range of bars and cafes which serve a selection of refreshments, including breakfasts, sandwiches, meals, cakes and so on. Whilst some of these are open until quite late, others offer a 24 hour service.
Money services
The airport offers banking and currency exchange services at the Unicaja Bank and two further currency exchange offices, as well as an ATM machine. These can all be found in Terminal 2. There is also a post office located in Terminal 1.
Left and lost luggage and lost property at Malaga Airport
Should you be unfortunate enough to lose your luggage, you should report to the lost luggage office for the handling company, which can be found in the baggage reclaim area at the appropriate terminal. Should you lose any other items of personal property, the lost property office can be found on the upper floor of Terminal 1.
There is no facility for left luggage at Malaga Airport.
Tourist Office
The Andalucia Regional Tourist Office can be found on the ground floor of Terminal 2 at the airport.
Airport Hotels
There are no hotels actually on the site of the airport, but there are several which are a short bus or taxi ride away. The Holiday Inn Express on the Avenida de Velazquez is the closest of these and there is also a Novotel at around 3kms from the airport.