Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport

Madeira Airport is about 13 km east-northeast of Funchal, in the municipality of Santa Cruz. A taxi or private transfer is the most direct way into the city, while the Aerobus shuttle takes about 50 minutes to reach its last stop at Praia Formosa, stopping near hotels in Funchal's hotel zone along the way. Travel times depend on traffic on the roads into Funchal.

No. The airport is in Santa Cruz, a separate municipality on Madeira's southeast coast, about 13 km from Funchal. It is often called Funchal Airport because Funchal is the island's capital and the main destination for arriving passengers. The towns of Santa Cruz and Machico are much closer to the airport than Funchal is.

Madeira Airport has one terminal, which handles all scheduled flights. It was renovated in 2016 and has separate Schengen and non-Schengen areas, 16 boarding gates and seven baggage belts. There are no air bridges, so passengers either walk a short distance across the apron or take a bus between the aircraft and the terminal building.

TAP Air Portugal connects Madeira with Lisbon, Porto and Faro. easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, Transavia, TUI fly, Eurowings and Condor bring visitors from across Europe, and British Airways flies from London Gatwick. Binter Canarias serves Porto Santo and the Canary Islands, Azores Airlines flies to the Azores, and United Airlines runs a seasonal route to Newark. All flights use the single terminal.

Yes. The taxi rank is outside Arrivals on the ground floor of the terminal, and taxis can take you anywhere on the island, including Funchal, Calheta and Porto Moniz. Use the official rank rather than accepting offers inside the building. When several flights land at the same time, you may need to wait in line for a car.

Yes. The Aerobus shuttle leaves from the Arrivals area and runs to Praia Formosa, stopping near many hotels in Funchal on the way, with the full trip taking about 50 minutes. Tickets are paid in cash to the driver. SAM regional buses on eastern routes also pass the airport and connect it with Machico, Santa Cruz and Funchal.

Bolt operates on Madeira and can be used for rides from the airport to Funchal and other parts of the island. How quickly you get a car depends on how many drivers are nearby when you land, which can vary late at night. The official taxi rank outside Arrivals on the ground floor is the alternative if no ride is available.

Madeira is part of Portugal and the Schengen area. Flights from other Schengen countries arrive without passport control. Non-EU travelers arriving from outside Schengen go through border control, where they are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), fully operational since 10 April 2026; the planned ETIAS travel authorization is not yet in operation.

The airport sits below steep cliffs, and Atlantic winds create turbulence, downdrafts and wind shear on the approach, especially to runway 05. Airlines must stay within set wind limits, so strong winds can delay, cancel or divert flights. In August 2024, 59 flights were canceled over four days and diverted aircraft went to Lisbon and the Canary Islands.

Binter Canarias flies from Madeira Airport to Porto Santo, the smaller island northeast of Madeira, and the flight is the quickest way to get there directly from the airport. Another option is to travel into Funchal and take the ferry from the city's port. Flights between the two islands can also be affected by strong winds.

Calheta on the southwest coast and Porto Moniz on the north coast are on the far side of the island from the airport. A taxi, private transfer or rental car is the practical choice, since reaching them by public bus means changing in Funchal. The roads are steep and winding, with many tunnels, so allow extra time.

Madeira uses Western European Time, UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 during summer daylight saving time, the same as mainland Portugal. The currency is the euro, and cards are widely accepted, though the Aerobus takes cash only. The island has mild temperatures all year, but weather can change quickly between the coast and the mountains.

Madeira Airport is operated by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, part of VINCI Airports. It handled more than 5.4 million passengers in 2025, a rise of about 12 percent on the previous year. The airport opened on 8 July 1964, and its runway was extended to 2,781 m in 2000.

We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.

Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.

Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.

Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.

Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.

Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.

Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.

Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.

You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.

PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.

Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.

During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.

Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.

No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.

Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.

Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.

Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.

All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.

We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.

Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.

Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.