Almeria Airport (LEI)
History, Facts and Overview

(Almeria, Andalucia, Spain)

Almeria has a rich aeronautical history and has been home to an aerodrome since the latter part of the 1920s. However, it was not until the late 1940s that the city actively began to plan its airport and search for a suitable site.

Construction of Almeria Airport commenced in the mid-1960s, within the Los Albardiales area. Comprising a long runway and modern passenger terminal, Almeria Airport finally opened in 1968, to much celebration. At this stage, the airport was named El Alquian Airport and flights to Madrid were offered, soon after followed by services to other Spanish cities, such as Barcelona and also Alicante.


From the 1970s, the airport began its first flights between Almeria and Paris, adding further routes over the following years, to destinations in Germany and also London, England. In 1995, Almeria Airport opened a new passenger terminal, followed by a large cargo terminal seven years later.

Facilities at Almeria Airport include ATMs, a runway terrace and four travel agencies, which can assist with all your travel plans. There are cafés on all three levels of the terminal, which serve a variety of food and drinks. Popular eateries include Cafeteria Almariyya, Airport Café and the Bar Snack Café, which features a range of tasty Tapas dishes and offers superb coastal views. A wide range of shopping options exist at various retail outlets around Almeria Airport, such as Aldeasa Travel Value, Bahia Centre gifts shop and Relay newsagents.