Spain's 'ghost airport' is set to resume operations after being closed for 14 years. Ciudad Real International Airport (CRIA), located about 150 miles south of Madrid, was originally built as an alternative to Barajas Airport. It cost €1 billion (£864 million) to construct and opened in 2008, becoming Spain's first privatised international airport. Backed by high-profile shareholders, it aimed to handle both cargo and passenger flights.
Brief History and Closure
The airport boasts one of Europe's longest runways, stretching nearly 2.5 miles. Airlines such as Ryanair, Air Berlin, and Vueling briefly operated there. However, plans for a railway connection never materialised, and the two-hour drive from Madrid centre deterred customers. Despite expecting 5 million annual visitors, the airport carried only 190,000 passengers during its entire operation, averaging three flights per week. It closed in 2012.
Sale and Recent Use
A judge ruled the airport should be sold, initially asking €100 million (£86 million). After years on the market, it was listed with no minimum price in 2015, provided the new owner assumed its €290 million (£251 million) debt. Since then, the site has been used for pilot training and aircraft storage, hosting 70 planes during the pandemic when airlines needed parking space for grounded fleets.
Reopening Plans
This week, it was announced that CRIA will officially resume operations later this year. The abandoned 28,000 sq ft terminal will welcome passengers for the first time in over a decade. New managing director Rafael Gómez Arribas confirmed the airport will handle private flights mainly from Europe and the US, along with specialist aviation, rather than commercial journeys. While most holidaymakers won't use it, charter planes may be redirected to ease pressure on other Spanish airports handling millions of commercial travellers annually.
Private Flight Trends
Private flights hit a record 3,878,836 trips in 2025. Spain ranked fourth in Europe for charter jet usage in 2022, behind the UK, France, and Germany.
Comparisons with Other Airports
Coventry Airport recently took its last flight after 90 years, with Take That among its final passengers. Manston Airport in Kent, dormant for over a decade, has started steps to reopen by 2029 after being purchased seven years ago. Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), closed in 2022, is on track to reopen thanks to a £57 million loan from Doncaster Council. Like CRIA, DSA was deemed not financially viable and shut after 17 years. DSA aims to be operational again by Easter 2028, with freight flights starting in 2027.
