Gibraltar airport - GIB

Tel.: (0034) 9567 73026
email: airport@gibnet.gi
Annual passenger numbers (2003) - 266,000
Runway length: 1,829m

Possibly one of the smallest airports you will ever use, Gibraltar's airport is situated on the narrow isthmus between the Rock and the Spanish frontier. In fact all traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, has to cross the runway to enter the city of Gibraltar. Gibraltar's medium length runway has the Mediterranean at it's Eastern end and the Bay of Algeciras at it's Western end. Gibraltar's peculiar geography can create some unusual localised weather conditions which can, a few times every year, result in aircraft being unable to land and being transferred to Tangiers, Faro or occasionally Malaga. There are well practiced contingency plans in place for such occurences and you will ultimately end up where you are supposed to be.

Aerial view of Gibraltar airport courtesy of Andre Barowski www.barowski.de

This scenario might soon be a thing of the past though. The recent thawing of relations and cross border cooperation has menat that joint use of the airport by both Gibraltar and Spain will see an end to this situation and an expansion of the airport and the number of flights. (see here for more background information.

Gibraltar currently has four scheduled flights a day - two Monarch flights and two GB Airways flights. For links to these carriers see Getting_here_by_air. This low volume of traffic ensures that queues are rare and the whole process of checking in and out is a lot easier and quicker than most international airports. The atmosphere in the terminal is relaxed and there is an open air observation deck on the first floor next to the bar from where you can watch all the comings and goings.

On leaving the terminal it is only a hundred metres walk to the Spanish frontier, where you have to clear Spanish customs. This generally just involves passing your luggage through an x-ray machine. (See here for duty free allowances) If you have a lot of luggage there is a Spanish porter with a large trolley who will transport it across the border for you (he's not cheap though - something like £5 an item!)

Once across the border you are in the Spanish town of La Linea de la Concepcion.

Getting to Manilva

Taxi - Immedately on leaving the frontier zone you will come to the taxi rank on your right. The fare to Manilva is 30 to 35 euros depending whereabouts in the municipality, The taxi drivers carry a card with the fixed rates printed on them.

Bus - The bus station is situated near to the frontier. On leaving the frontier carry on heading towards the town past McDonalds on the right. After about 50m you will see an underground car park on your left immediately before this is a road which leads a short distance to the bus station. See here for bus times.

Car hire - There are numerous car rental companies offering pick-ups from Gibraltar.

Once you have collected your vehicle take the coast road heading towards San Roque (keeping Gibraltar and Algeciras Bay on your left). Keep on this road through the small coastal village of Campamento past the oil refinery on the left until you reach the N340 road just before San Roque. Take the slip road on your right onto the N340 (signposted Estepona, Malaga) and follow this road for about 15kms until you pass Sotogrande on the right, just after the bridge over the river Guadiaro take the slip road on the right (this will avoid the toll road). At the roundabout take the first exit, past the ceramics centre on the right. At the next roundabout take the second exit signposted Manilva. Over the hill you come to another roundabout, take the second exit and follow the coast road until you come to Castillo, Puerto de la Duquesa and Sabinillas.

For Manilva itself turn left at the roundabout in the centre of Sabinillas and head up the hill for 2kms until you reach the town.