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Vitoria Airport

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For the Vitória Airport in Brazil, see Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport.
Vitoria Airport

Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorAena
ServesVitoria-Gasteiz
LocationVitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Elevation AMSL1,682 ft / 513 m
Coordinates42°52′58″N 02°43′28″W / 42.88278°N 2.72444°W / 42.88278; -2.72444
Websitehttps://www.aena.es/en/vitoria.html
Map
VIT is located in the Basque Country
VIT
VIT
Location of the airport in the Basque Country
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04/22 11,483 3,500 Concrete
Statistics (2023)
Passengers309,909
Passengers change 22-23Increase31.7%
Movements14,185
Movements change 22-23Increase6.3%
Cargo (metric tons)71,689
Source: Aena[1]

Vitoria Airport (IATA: VIT, ICAO: LEVT) is an airport near Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country of Spain. It is locally known as Foronda Airport due to its proximity to the hamlet of Foronda.[2] The airport has one terminal with 3 gates, 7 check-in counters and 16 stands for medium and light aircraft, and a 3.5 km long CAT II/III runway.[3][4]

History

Before the current airport was built, Vitoria-Gasteiz was served by an airfield in Salburua [eu]. In 1970, due to the demographic growth of the city, the local chamber of commerce urged the provincial government of Álava [es] to study the establishment of regular passenger flights. Due to the inadequacy of the existing infrastructure, preliminary studies for a new airport began in 1972. The 1976 project called for a 2,200 m (7,200 ft) runway, but eventually a 3,500 m (11,500 ft) runway was built.[5] The construction, which started in 1977, required the demolition of Otaza [es], a hamlet which would have been too close to the runway threshold. The airport opened on 16 February 1980.[6]

The provincial government, which had funded the construction, had envisioned the airport as the main gateway to the Basque Country. However, the initial offer of regular flights soon declined due to nearby Bilbao Airport being located closer to the main population centers.[6] DHL opened a logistics center at the airport in 1995, and a new cargo terminal was inaugurated in 2006.[7] Vitoria is currently (as of 2023) the fourth airport in Spain by cargo traffic.[8]

In 2006 Ryanair began daily flights from London Stansted Airport,[9] a year later it started operating flights from Dublin Airport.[10] The airline left the airport in October 2007.[11] Air Nostrum terminated its two daily flights to Madrid in March 2011, leaving the airport without regular flights.[12] Helitt operated flights to Barcelona from October 2012 to January 2013,[13] but no other airline operated regular flights to Vitoria until 2017.[14] During this time, scheduled passenger flights were limited to charter operations during the summer season.[citation needed] During the summer of 2015, Air Nostrum offered flights to Palma de Mallorca, Mahón and Jerez.[2][importance?]

However, in 2016, Ryanair announced its return to Vitoria in March 2017 with year-round services to Bergamo and Tenerife.[14] In October 2017, twice-weekly flights to Cologne/Bonn and Seville were added,[15] with the aim of reaching 115,000 passengers per year.[16] Flights to Mallorca were added in April 2019,[17] at the same time Ryanair announced plans to expand their service to the airport by 40%, with the goal of reaching 160,000 passengers.[18] In October 2020, Ryanair decided to reinforce domestic routes by adding a twice-weekly connection to Alicante.[19] Ryanair's commercial contract was renovated in 2020, and a new route to Charleroi was added in April 2021.[20] Binter Canarias started operating flights to Gran Canaria and Tenerife in July 2020.[21] Binter's route to Tenerife was terminated in March 2022,[22] while the remaining one to Gran Canaria ended in October 2023.[23]

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Vitoria Airport:

AirlinesDestinations
Ryanair Alicante,[19] Bergamo, Charleroi,[24] Seville
Seasonal: Cologne/Bonn,[25] Málaga,[26][27][28] Palma de Mallorca[27][28]

Statistics

In 2019, the airport served 174,000 passengers (37% international, 63% domestic), operated 10,800 flights and processed 64,500 tons of cargo.[4] The airport served 235,000 passengers in 2022 (the highest number since 1993) and processed 73,600 tons of cargo, the highest number in the airport's history.[29][30]

Passengers per year
Yearpassengers±%
1980212,080—    
1981250,357+18.0%
1982263,050+5.1%
1983237,519−9.7%
1984125,353−47.2%
1985114,229−8.9%
1986121,112+6.0%
1987133,406+10.2%
Yearpassengers±%
1988178,621+33.9%
1989257,586+44.2%
1990290,260+12.7%
1991268,089−7.6%
1992225,825−15.8%
1993248,445+10.0%
1994187,453−24.5%
1995153,259−18.2%
Yearpassengers±%
1996143,292−6.5%
1997143,951+0.5%
1998126,921−11.8%
1999156,860+23.6%
2000124,941−20.3%
2001129,102+3.3%
200298,962−23.3%
2003102,328+3.4%
Yearpassengers±%
200495,094−7.1%
200591,594−3.7%
2006173,605+89.5%
2007173,878+0.2%
200867,818−61.0%
200939,933−41.1%
201042,073+5.4%
201128,211−32.9%
Yearpassengers±%
201224,389−13.5%
20136,912−71.7%
20147,073+2.3%
201511,182+58.1%
201636,902+230.0%
201784,261+128.3%
2018140,945+67.3%
2019174,022+23.5%
Yearpassengers±%
202045,359−73.9%
2021128,376+183.0%
2022235,186+83.2%
2023309,929+31.8%
Source: 1980-1999,[31] 1999-2010,[32] 2004-2023[33][a]
Cargo per year (metric tons)
Yearcargo±%
19800—    
1981235—    
1982632+168.9%
1983722+14.2%
1984650−10.0%
1985704+8.3%
1986641−8.9%
1987515−19.7%
Yearcargo±%
1988981+90.5%
1989719−26.7%
1990534−25.7%
1991656+22.8%
1992929+41.6%
1993414−55.4%
19941,481+257.7%
199513,782+830.6%
Yearcargo±%
199626,722+93.9%
199731,469+17.8%
199842,272+34.3%
199939,926−5.5%
200035,610−10.8%
200136,309+2.0%
200242,225+16.3%
200340,156−4.9%
Yearcargo±%
200443,683+8.8%
200534,786−20.4%
200631,576−9.2%
200731,359−0.7%
200834,990+11.6%
200927,388−21.7%
201027,961+2.1%
201134,692+24.1%
Yearcargo±%
201234,648−0.1%
201337,482+8.2%
201442,161+12.5%
201546,372+10.0%
201652,136+12.4%
201760,479+16.0%
201862,145+2.8%
201964,471+3.7%
Yearcargo±%
202064,335−0.2%
202172,529+12.7%
202273,620+1.5%
202371,689−2.6%
Source: 1980-1999,[31] 1999-2010,[32] 2004-2023[33][a]

Public transport

  • A bus line from company La Union connects the airport with the city. The line operates only when regular flights arrive or depart.[34][35]
  • Starting in 2024, a bus line will connect the airport with Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and Bilbao Airport.[36]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 19 May 1995, a Convair CV-580 operated by Swiftair made a wheels-up landing during a training flight. All four occupants survived, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.[37]

Notes

  1. ^ a b The sources give a slightly different figure for the year 1999, the highest of the two is shown in the table.

References

  1. ^ Informe anual 2023 (Report) (in Spanish). Aena. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Canto, Alberto (28 February 2015). "Air Nostrum unirá Foronda en verano con Palma de Mallorca, Mahón y Jerez". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Aeropuerto de Vitoria". Aeropuertos.net (in Spanish). 18 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b Vitoria Airport 2019 · 2020 (PDF) (Report). Aena. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Historia - Aeropuerto de Vitoria". Aena (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Echeazarra, Saioa (February 2020). "Historia del aeropuerto de Vitoria - Foronda: un sueño que echó a volar en 1980". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  7. ^ "DHL inauguró nueva terminal para península en aeropuerto Vitoria". El Economista (in Spanish). EFE. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  8. ^ dos Santos, Jon (8 January 2024). "Así se vive Foronda desde la torre de control". Cadena SER (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Ryanair inaugura el primer vuelo barato de Vitoria a Londres el 17 de febrero". El País (in Spanish). 9 December 2005. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Ryanair gestionará 120.000 pasajeros al año con la nueva ruta que unirá Vitoria y Dublín". El Correo (in Spanish). Europa Press. 9 August 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Ryanair dejará la ruta que unía el aeropuerto de Vitoria con Londres y Dublín". El Correo Gallego (in Spanish). EFE. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  12. ^ López, Luis (1 December 2010). "Vitoria se queda sin vuelos regulares". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  13. ^ Gatón, Natxo (4 October 2014). "Helitt cierra definitivamente sin devolver el dinero a decenas de vitorianos". GasteizHoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  14. ^ a b Berdonces, Juan Carlos (10 October 2016). "Milán y Tenerife serán los primeros destinos de Ryanair desde Foronda". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Ryanair estrena su vuelo de Vitoria a Colonia". EITB (in Spanish). 30 October 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Ryanair presenta su calendario de vuelos de invierno 2017 para Vitoria". Ryanair's Corporate Website (in Spanish). Ryanair. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  17. ^ Cuesta, Gabriel (19 November 2018). "Ryanair confirma su enlace con Mallorca desde Foronda". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Ryanair anuncia su calendario de invierno 2019 para Vitoria y aumentará su tráfico en el aeropuerto un 40%". Ryanair's Corporate Website (in Spanish). Ryanair. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Ryanair reforzará la conectividad regional en España con 4 nuevas rutas domésticas". Ryanair's Corporate Website (in Spanish). Ryanair. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  20. ^ Echezarra, Saioa (26 November 2020). "Ryanair volará desde Foronda 4 años más y sumará una nueva ruta a Bruselas". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  21. ^ Echezarra, Saioa (23 June 2020). "Binter adelanta al 22 de julio sus vuelos a Tenerife desde Foronda". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  22. ^ Carazo, Ander (22 March 2022). "Álava descontará a Binter los vuelos que «no cumpla» tras suspender la conexión con Tenerife". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  23. ^ del Campo, José Luis; Ortega, David (13 June 2023). "Binter dejará de operar desde Foronda después del verano". Noticias de Álava (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Vuelos Vitoria Bruselas". Aeropuerto de Vitoria Foronda (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  25. ^ Gatón, Natxo (11 February 2022). "Ryanair volará de Foronda a Bruselas a partir de marzo". GasteizHoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Ryanair NW23 Network Changes". AeroRoutes. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  27. ^ a b Martín, Begoña (2 September 2023). "La drástica decisión de Ryanair para Vitoria". Noticias de Álava (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  28. ^ a b Echezarra, Saioa (2 September 2023). "Foronda reducirá varios de sus vuelos regulares durante el invierno". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  29. ^ Bravo, Oier (10 January 2023). "Datos de récord en Foronda en 2022". GasteizHoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  30. ^ Estadísticas diciembre 2022 (Report) (in Spanish). Aena. p. 2. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  31. ^ a b "3. Estudio de la situación actual del aeropuerto". Plan director del aeropuerto de Vitoria (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). DGAC. pp. 23, 28. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  32. ^ a b Martínez Artola, Alberto. "Aeropuertos en Euskal Herria". Auñamendi Encyclopedia (in Spanish). Eusko Ikaskuntza. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Informes anuales" (in Spanish). Aena. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  34. ^ Carazo, Ander; Goitia, Jon Ander (17 April 2022). "La afluencia por Semana Santa y la escasez de buses desbordan el parking de Foronda". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Special buses to the airport". Website of the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  36. ^ Echezarra, Saioa (10 October 2022). "Álava y Bizkaia gestionarán los autobuses entre las capitales y abrirán una línea Vitoria-Loiu en 2024". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  37. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Convair CV-580F SCD EC-899 Vitoria Airport (VIT)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
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