Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport

Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport serves as the primary gateway to the Algarve region in southern Portugal, handling millions of tourists annually who come for the region's beaches, golf courses, and warm climate. It is named after the Portuguese aviation pioneer Carlos Viegas Gago Coutinho, who co-piloted the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean in 1922. The airport is operated by ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, a subsidiary of VINCI Airports, and is one of the busiest airports in Portugal, typically ranking third in annual passenger traffic behind Lisbon and Porto. It handles a large volume of charter and low-cost carrier traffic, particularly from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Faro Airport underwent significant infrastructure expansions in the 2000s and continues to serve as a seasonal hub for numerous European carriers, with passenger numbers heavily concentrated in the summer months due to the region's tourism-driven economy.