{"id":25736,"date":"2024-04-14T10:35:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=25736"},"modified":"2024-04-05T14:54:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T12:54:06","slug":"gibraltar-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/united-kingdom\/gibraltar\/gibraltar-airport\/","title":{"rendered":"Walking across the runway in Gibraltar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A walk in the middle of an airport tarmac? If you think this is not allowed, you should definitely visit Gibraltar Airport \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gibraltar Airport is certainly one of the most unusual airports in the world. For us, that was one of the reasons why we really wanted to visit this small part of the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In 1939, the British armed forces built a military airport in Gibraltar. During the Second World War, it became an important strategic location and was primarily used as an emergency landing site for the Air Force. The airport is still in military use today, although Royal Air Force aircraft are not permanently stationed there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since December 1987, Gibraltar Airport has also been used by civilian aircraft and serves Gibraltar and the neighboring region of La Linea de la Concepti\u00f3n in Andalusia as a transport hub. For a few years now, there has even been a new terminal building that can now handle around 1.5 million passengers per year. The length of the runway is 1,829 meters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
However, I doubt whether there are really that many passengers. There aren’t really many planes landing and taking off here. While we spent a few days there, 3 take-offs and landings were scheduled per day. They all arrived at lunchtime and left about an hour later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gibraltar Airport is served by easyJet and British Airways. The flights connect Gibraltar with the airports of Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester or Bristol. There are no other flight connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What makes Gibraltar Airport so special?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Gibraltar is not particularly large, is mountainous and offers little space for an airport. It was therefore not easy to build a runway of the required length. Considering the topography of the region, there was only one possible location – the exact spot on the border between Spain and Gibraltar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The length of the required runway is just about sufficient. The end is right by the sea and that alone is a real thrill. Pilots should not touch down too early or take off too late here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another problem that arose during construction. There was only one road connecting Spain to Gibraltar and it was located exactly where the runway was being built. Interrupting the road link was of course out of the question. The solution was relatively simple: the road simply ran over the airport runway!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Until March 2023, cars drove back and forth here every day. When an airplane arrived or wanted to take off, the cars had to wait like at a level crossing. This level crossing was unique in the world for an international airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, as road traffic increased, the problem of long traffic jams and enormous traffic chaos grew. If, for example, additional take-offs and landings were necessary due to a Royal Air Force maneuver, the chaos was complete. A solution had to be found\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Kingsway Tunnel opened in March 2023 after 15 years of construction. The 350-metre-long tunnel, which runs under the eastern end of the runway, is only intended for cars, trucks and motorcycles. It is the only access road to the border, Gibraltar International Airport, the Eroski supermarket and Western Beach. This is an excellent solution for the region and, above all, for road traffic. A bit of a shame for the tourists who wanted to use the dirt road. But there is an alternative!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pedestrians and cyclists still have to cross the airport to get from Spain to Gibraltar (and back)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We had informed ourselves in advance about the flight schedule so that we could witness a landing or take-off if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After passport control for entry from Spain to Gibraltar, we walked a few steps further. The former road is now only used by airport staff and security and takes them to a small parking lot. There are barriers in front of the airfield, making it only possible for bicycles to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The engine noises got louder and the plane appeared in the field of vision. It slowly taxied to the end of the runway. Then it was time, the noise increased, the plane shot past the barrier and finally took off. As soon as it was in the air, the barriers opened and we were able to walk comfortably across the runway and begin our Gibraltar excursion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Viewpoint of the airport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the best viewpoint of the airport grounds was definitely on the Rock of Gibraltar. At the entrance to one of the tunnel systems there is a viewing platform from which you have an excellent view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
We had planned our schedule so that we arrived there in time to witness the take-off of a plane. Shortly beforehand, we had been able to watch it land, but only with very limited visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
From the viewing platform, we were able to see the entire airport of Gibraltar from above for the first time. It’s impressive how the runway ends right by the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The footpath across the site is clearly visible and when the barriers closed, it was clear that the machine would soon be starting. But first a car drove over the footpath and cleaned the tarmac. The plane then left its parking position and taxied to the start of the runway. I watched with excitement as it picked up speed and then, relatively far before the end of the runway, rose into the air to disappear into the blue sky over the Gulf of Gibraltar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
We were impressed by Gibraltar Airport with its walkway across the tarmac. A really unusual place that we didn’t want to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n
A walk in the middle of an airport tarmac? If you think this is not allowed, you should definitely visit Gibraltar Airport \u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[85],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Gibraltar-Rollfeld--1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"neuer](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/gibraltar-neuer-tunnen-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"auf](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/gibraltar-rollfeld-flugzeug-1024x768.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Gibraltar-rollfeld-warten--1024x682.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"zu](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/gibraltar-weg-ueber-rollfeld-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Gibraltar](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/gibraltar-flughafen-komplett-1024x436.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Landeanflug](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/gibraltar-flugzeug-anflug-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Auf](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/gibraltar-flugzeug-start-1-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Start,](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/gibraltar-flugzeug-start-2-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n