Bilbao Airport
IATA: BIO - ICAO: LEBB
Summary
Airport type		public
Operator		Aena
Serves		Bilbao
Elevation AMSL		138 ft (42 m)
Coordinates		43°18′03.95″N, 2°54′38.19″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
10/28	6,562	2,000	Paved
12/30	8,530	2,600	Paved

The airport closed during a blizzard, January 1985.

Bilbao Airport (IATA: BIO, ICAO: LEBB) is a public airport located 5 km north of Bilbao, in the municipality of Loiu, in Spain. It is the most important airport of the Basque Country and northern Spain, with 3,876,062 passengers on 2006. It is famous for its new main terminal opened in 2000 and designed by Santiago Calatrava. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 377 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Desc: Aeropuerto de Bilbao File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... The ICAO (IPA pronunciation: ) airport code or location indicator is a four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. ... Aena is the name of the Spanish state owned company that owns and manage all Spanish airports. ... La Muy Noble y Muy Leal e Invicta (The most noble and most loyal and undefeated) Location Location of Bilbao in Spain and Biscay Coordinates : , Time zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer : CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Bilbao (Basque) Spanish name Bilbao Nickname El Botxo (the hole) Founded 15... The term above mean sea level (AMSL) refers to the elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of any object, relative to the average sea level. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Image File history File links Aerosnow. ... Image File history File links Aerosnow. ... An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier [1], is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ... The ICAO (IPA pronunciation: ) airport code or location indicator is a four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. ... La Muy Noble y Muy Leal e Invicta (The most noble and most loyal and undefeated) Location Location of Bilbao in Spain and Biscay Coordinates : , Time zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer : CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Bilbao (Basque) Spanish name Bilbao Nickname El Botxo (the hole) Founded 15... Loiu is a town located in the province of Bizkaia, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the North of Spain. ... Pays Basque) see Northern Basque Country. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Santiago Calatrava Valls (born July 28, 1951) is an internationally recognized and award-winning Spanish architect and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zurich, Switzerland. ...

History

After various different aeronautic experiments in the province of Biscay, in October 1927 steps were taken by the Union of Public Works to establish an airport in Bilbao. A Provincial Board was created to study the possible location of the airport. It was not until 1936 that the General Aeronautics Management authorised the installation of an airport in Sondika. However, due to the many deficiencies of this site, the airport was not considered of interest. Bilbao is surrounded by mountains and a flat valley without significant population had to be found. For other uses, see Biscay (disambiguation). ... La Muy Noble y Muy Leal e Invicta (The most noble and most loyal and undefeated) Location Location of Bilbao in Spain and Biscay Coordinates : , Time zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer : CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Bilbao (Basque) Spanish name Bilbao Nickname El Botxo (the hole) Founded 15... Sondika is a town located in the province of Bizkaia, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the North of Spain. ...

The construction works commenced during the Civil War but during this time and until June 1937 the airport was only used as a base for military activities. In 1938, the second stage of the airport's development began. The council resumed procedures with the government to modify the primitive project of 1936 and the drafting of a new project was authorised and later approved by the General Management of Infrastructure. Not to be confused with the Spanish Civil War of 1820-1823. ...

In 1940, it was decided by common agreement with the local organisations affected to build a civilian airport in Sondika. The construction works progressed slowly and on the 19th September 1948, the airport was at last opened to daytime traffic with the establishment of an air path to Madrid by Aviación y Comercio, SA. Two years later, the terminal, named Carlos Haya after the well-known pilot from Bilbao, began to give service. At this time, the airport had an asphalt runway, the 11-29 (measuring 1,440 by 45 metres), another earth runway (measuring 1,500 by 150 metres), a taxiway, a passenger terminal, a tower control, a radio beacon, a direction finder as well as police, post office, weather, health, fuel and telephone services. In 1955, a taxiway was built to link the runway with the parking stands and terminal. An apron measuring 124 by 60 metres, a hangar for the Royal Flying Club of Vizcaya and permanent facilities for Campsa were also built. This article is about the Spanish capital. ... Aviaco (Aviación y Comercio SA) was an spanish airline founded february 18, 1948. ...

Between 1964 and 1965, an instrumental ILS landing system and a meteorological radio for storm detection were installed; the runway was extended to 2,000 metres and the apron to 12,000 square metres. In 1975, the runway was surfaced and its orientation became 10-28 due to the change in magnetic declination. In 1977, the parking stand was extended, a link road was built and an ILS system was installed. The runway 12-30, measuring 2,600 metres long, was opened the same year and the airport was classified as first category the following year. As a result of the population density of the area, approaching planes may have to fly over the extensive Derio cemetery. ILS can refer to any of the following: New Israeli sheqel, the currency of Israel. ... Derio is a town located in the province of Bizkaia, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the North of Spain. ...

During the eighties, the ILS landing system entered into service for runway 10/30; the communication centre, passenger terminal and parking facilities were enlarged; and a fire service building and cargo terminal were constructed. A container terminal is a facility where cargo containers are loaded or unloaded from ships to land vehicles, for further transport. ...

On February 19th 1985 an Iberia flight from Madrid crashed in the Mount Oiz, all passengers and crew died. This article is about the year. ... Oiz, southern face. ...

In 1996, a new taxiway with two rapid exits and a new aircraft parking apron were built. The works required the removal of tons of soil poisoned with lindane residues. In May 1999, the new tower control was put into service, which allowed for a more centred vision of the airfield and at the same time facilitated airport operations. On the 19th November 2000, a new terminal area was opened in the north zone. This was comprised of a new terminal building, with a surface area of 32,000 square metres, a car park with 3,000 parking spaces measuring 95,000 square metres and a north apron for aircraft parking to serve the new terminal area. Lindane is an insecticide, also known as gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and benzene hexachloride (BHC). ...

Design

Interior of the terminal, departures corridor.

The terminal has a sleek design, with two symmetrical "wings" and a sharp tip at its center which is specially visible when approaching the terminal from the sides. This original design has granted the building the nickname of "La Paloma" ("The Dove"). White concrete and glass have been used. The interiors are open and luminous spaces, distributed in two floors, the upper one for departures (check-in counters and gates) and the lower for arrivals. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1911 KB) Summary Bilbao - Loiu airport terminal designed by architect Santiago Calatrava 2006 apr 13, 19:50 hrs. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1911 KB) Summary Bilbao - Loiu airport terminal designed by architect Santiago Calatrava 2006 apr 13, 19:50 hrs. ... EXAMPLE:Laughbox,Blondie,BamBam,Pinkie,etc. ... Subfamilies see article text Feral Rock Pigeon beside Weiming Lake, Peking University Dove redirects here. ...

There has been some criticism of Santiago Calatrava's design by Aena, the Spanish airport authority, because it seems difficult to make further enlargements in the terminal's capacity because the design is too closed. In spite of this, modifications have taken place in 2005-2006 in the check-in area to provide enhanced shopping facilities for travellers, with almost double the retail space now being offered. Santiago Calatrava Valls (born July 28, 1951) is an internationally recognized and award-winning Spanish architect and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zurich, Switzerland. ... Aena is the name of the Spanish state owned company that owns and manage all Spanish airports. ...

Basques using the airport widely complain about its lack of an arrivals area, since once passengers clear customs, they step directly outside. However, there is a dramatic viewing gallery raised above the baggage reclaim area, where those waiting to greet passengers can wait and watch as they collect their baggage and leave the terminal. There is often waving and excitement as relatives or friends scan to see each other from the gallery, and the architect cites this in defence of his design of the arrivals area.

Calatrava also designed the Zubizuri bridge in Bilbao. Like the terminal, it has been praised by its architectural looks and criticized for impracticality. River Nervion with Zubizuri Footbridge from Uribitarte. ...

Traffic

An A320 boarding, destination Rome. The control tower is seen in the background.

The airport has seen a constant increase in its traffic numbers, the old terminal was already saturated and obsolete in 1990, although it had been renewed only a few years earlier. At the present day Bilbao is the most important hub in northern Spain and the number of passengers using the new terminal continues to rise, specially after the increased touristic interest in the city since the opening of the Guggenheim museum. With the current increase of traffic, the terminal will become saturated again in two years because it is designed to handle about 4.5 million passengers per year. Image File history File links Trafico_bilbao. ... Image File history File links Trafico_bilbao. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1872 KB)[edit] Summary A320 aircraft, boarding. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1872 KB)[edit] Summary A320 aircraft, boarding. ... The Airbus A320 is a short to medium range commercial passenger aircraft manufactured by Airbus. ... The control tower at Schiphol airport. ... The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, along the Nervión River in downtown Bilbao, with the Maman, a huge spider by Louise Bourgeois The Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain, which is made of glass, titanium, and limestone. ...

Airlines and destinations

• Aer Lingus (Dublin [seasonal])
• Air Berlin (Palma de Mallorca)
• Air Europa (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife-South, Tenerife-North)
• Air France
  • operated by Brit Air (Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
• Alitalia
  • operated by Alitalia Express (Milan-Malpensa)
• Brussels Airlines (Brussels)
• Clickair (Barcelona, London [starts April 2008], Malaga, Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
• EasyJet (London-Stansted)
• Iberia (London-Heathrow [end April 2008], Madrid)
  • operated by Air Nostrum (Alicante, Badajoz, La Coruña, Lisbon, Palma de Mallorca [starts July 20, 2007], Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Valencia, Vigo)
• Lufthansa (Frankfurt)
  • operated by Eurowings (Düsseldorf, Stuttgart)
• Scandinavian Airlines System (Oslo [starts March 30, 2008])
• Spanair (A Coruña [starts 2008], Arrecife, Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Jerez de la Frontera, Gran Canaria, Madrid, Malaga, Munich, Tenerife-South, Zurich [starts 2008])
• TAP Portugal
  • operated by Portugália (Lisbon)
• Tunisair (Monastir) [seasonal]
• TUIfly (Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart) [seasonal]
• Vueling Airlines (Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Seville)

Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Aer Lingus is Irelands national airline. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Air Berlin (FSE: AB1) is Germanys second largest airline after Lufthansa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Air Europa Boeing 737-800 landing Boeing 737-85P at Madrid Barajas International Airport Air Europa Líneas Aéreas, S.A. is an airline based in Palma, Majorca, Spain. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Air France (formally Société Air France) is Europes largest airline company. ... Brit Air is an airline based at Morlaix in France and has a fleet of 41 aircraft. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Airbus A321-100 lands at London Heathrow airport Airbus A319-100 Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane (BIT: IT0003331888) is the flag carrier airline of Italy. ... Alitalia Express is an airline based in Rome, Italy and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alitalia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... Brussels Airlines is a Belgian airline based at Brussels Airport. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Clickair is a low-cost airline based in Barcelona, Spain, that operates services from a number of Spanish cities to nearly 40 destinations in Europe. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... easyJet (LSE: EZJ) is a low cost airline officially known as easyJet Airline Company Limited, based at London Luton Airport. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Airbus A319-100 McDonnell Douglas MD-88 Iberia Airlines or Iberia, full name Iberia Airlines of Spain (Spanish: ), (IBEX-35:IBLA) is the largest airline of Spain, based in Madrid and is the Spanish flag carrier. ... Air Nostrum CRJ-200 Air Nostrum Dash 8 Air Nostrum, also known as Iberia Regional, is a regional airline based in Valencia, Spain, operating as an Iberia regional partner and an affiliate member of the oneworld airline alliance. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Deutsche Lufthansa AG (ISIN: DE0008232125) (pronounced ) is the second largest airline in Europe (after Air France - KLM). ... Eurowings is an airline based in Dortmund, Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Scandinavian Airlines System or SAS is a multi-national airline for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the leading carrier in the Scandinavian countries, based in Stockholm, Sweden and owned by SAS AB. It is a founding member of the Star Alliance. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Spanair S.A. (IATA: JK, ICAO: JKK, and Callsign: Spanair), is an airline based in Palma, Mallorca, Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Portugal. ... Boeing 727 with classic livery 1950s-1980 Airbus A321-200 with former livery 1980-2005 Airbus A321-200 Airbus A320-200 taking off A319 in Faro, Algarve. ... Portugália (Companhia Portuguesa de Transportes Aereos SA) is a regional airline based in Lisbon, Portugal, a subsidiary of TAP Portugal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ... Tunisair Airbus A320-200 Tunisair (Arabic: الخطوط الجوية التونسية), formed in 1948 is the national flag carrier airline of Tunisia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... TUIfly Boeing 737-800 D-AHFI at Munich Airport TUIfly is a German airline that was founded in January 2007 as a cooperation of Hapag-Lloyd Flug and Hapag-Lloyd Express whose brands Hapagfly and HLX.com are no longer used. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Vueling Airbus A320 Vueling Airlines is a low-fare airline based in Barcelona, Spain. ...

External links

• Official airport website (in English)
• Airport information for LEBB at World Aero Data
• A-Z World Airports: Bilbao Airport (BIO/LEBB)
• Google Maps image of the airport

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bilbao Airport