Malaga Airport Information

Getting to Costa del Sol Resorts from Malaga Airport

Malaga Airport is located approximately 8km to the south west of Malaga, and offers excellent transportation links to the rest of the Costa del Sol.

Malaga Airport is located adjacent to the coastal A7/E15 motorway making it very easy to drive to the nearby resort hotspots of Fuengirola, Puerto Banus, Marbella, and Torremolinos.

When arriving or departing from the airport there are also two new access routes that are exclusive to the airport making it easy to get to the departure terminal. From the south the A7 will lead you directly into the airport or from the north you can easily get to Malaga Airport by following West ring road. There is also work on an underground station that will soon allow travellers to take the subway system from Malaga into the airport making transportation even simpler for those heading to the Costa Del Sol.

Arrival/Departure information

UK flights are uually routed through Terminal 2 at Malaga airport making it simple for those who are driving to the airport to pick up relatives or those driving back to the airport after a holiday comes to the close. However, due to renovations at the moment baggage should be checked at Terminal 2 but then most flyers are being directed towards Terminal 3 to pass through security and passport control. Therefore, those with only a boarding pass and carry-ons you should skip ahead to terminal 3 otherwise you will have taken the long way around. The same is true when landing at the Malaga airport because you may land near Terminal 2 or pass through Terminal 2 but you will have to pass through security in Terminal 3 before claiming your baggage in the Terminal 3 baggage claim. Those with hand luggage will also be directed to exit this way. In theory, it is only supposed to take about 15 minutes from the time a flight lands to claim baggage at the baggage claim areas but due to the back-up from terminal 2 sometimes it can take up to an hour so allow time for this process if you have checked bags.

Taxi

Transport Options To/From the Airport

Taxi ranks are located directly outside Terminal 3 and Terminal 1, however, taxis in Malaga are not metered so it important to ask for a quote to your destination before leaving. Most taxis will automatically use the coast road due to the fact that it is faster but the Toll Road is safer and most taxi drivers will reluctantly use it instead if you ask for it in advance and are willing to pay the toll which is about five Euro.

Bus

There are two major bus services operated by the Malaga Airport Bus transit that run from the airport to the Marbella Bus Station which is about a 45 minute trip and to the Malaga City Centre which runs on a variable schedule so check the summer and winter schedules before embarking on your holiday.

Train

There is a train station at Malaga Airport which offers service to Malaga and as far west as Fuengirola. The line will be extended to reach towards Gibraltar but this expansion will not be complete until 2015 at the earliest. If you plan on using farther rail transportation the best route is to use the Maria Zambrano Train Station located in the Malaga City Centre which can be accessed via the Airport Bus system first. Be aware that during the summer months the wait for a taxi can be up to an hour long.

Car Rental

There over 20 car rental companies at Malaga Airport many of the larger suppliers are located within the arrivals terminal. Some of the smaller rental companies have offices a short distance from the arrivals terminal, and will offer a transfer which takes a couple of minutes.

Booking in advance will help you secure the best deal, but be aware that even if you pay in advance most car hire companies will still require that you show them a credit card so they can hold your number as a deposit. From Terminal 2 the car hire is located to the left from the main exit and start of the arrivals hall, from Terminal 3 the car hire desks are located across the ground floor arrivals area. At the moment there are not any car hire desks operational from Terminal 2 due to renovations. The companies that operate directly out of Malaga Airport include Auriga Crown, Autos Lido, National Atesa, Avis, Europcar, Record, Goldcar, Hertz, Solmar, and Sixt.

TIP During busy periods to avoid queueing, the driver of your rental vehicle should head directly to the rental desks, while other passengers pick up the luggage.

Airlines That Operate From Malaga Airport

The approximate flight time from any UK airport to Malaga is about 2 and ½ hours long to three hours depending on what airline you are using and the airport you depart from. There are over 30 different airports in the UK that offer flights to the Malaga Airport from around eight different airlines although the frequency of flights and number of flights change throughout the year with the peak travel time occurring during the summer. Direct flights are available from London although many of the flight companies also offer operating flights and charter flights. Airlines that regularly fly to Malaga from within Britain include Jet2.com, Thomson Flights, Flybe, Ryanair, Flybe, Monarch, easyJet, flythomascook.com charters, AerLingus, and British Airways. From Wales bMi Baby also offers flights and from Scotland there are additional flights to Malaga offered by Air Europa and Air France in addition to airlines mentioned above in the Britain airline list.

General amenities at the airport

There are many passenger services and amenities available to those who fly through the Malaga airport including VIP lounges, luggage facilities, currency exchange, meeting rooms, lost property, tourist information, a prayer room, and lost luggage area. In addition there is assistance for all passengers that have mobility issues or special needs and aid is available for those who are travelling alone with children.

Guide to the Airport Shops and Food Options

Malaga Airport is paced full of stores that offer everything from presents and souvenirs to clothing and other designer goods that you may want for yourself. There is also a great deal of confectionary items that you can purchase to take back to the UK with you after passing through security gates. At the moment the shopping area is smaller as the Terminal 2 shops are closed for remodelling but there is a light and airy shopping area in Terminal 3 that covers about 10,800 sq meters and offers you the choice of 50 shops and a few duty free shops. Most popular purchases include cigarettes (at around half the price of UK cigarettes), cosmetics, perfumery, alcohol, foodstuffs, and alcohol given the high duty free allowance for UK citizens.

Finding a place to grab a quick bite or a full meal is not a problem at the Malaga airport as you can easily find everything from sandwich bars to cafes to a self-serve restaurant spread out throughout the three terminals. In addition, there are also a few bars for those who simply want a drink and to relax before their flight takes off or their transportation arrives. If you have the time, Lor Morago Airport is certainly worth a try as it is owned and run by Michelin Star Chef Dani Garcia. However, the prices are high for food, drinks, and snacks so if you have time to eat before your flight it is recommended. Some local Spanish travellers regularly make their own sandwiches to carry on for this reason. Those who just want a quick snack will find plenty of fast food options woven throughout the airport such as the Whopper Bar, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and more.

Airport Prices at the shops

In general you can get good prices on many goods at the airport shops due to the fact that it is tax free shopping. Those heading back to the EU do not have to worry about paying on any tax so long you have your boarding pass ready to show when purchasing any items. Most popular purchases include cosmetics, perfumery, alcohol, foodstuffs, and alcohol. Souvenirs, books, and magazines however tend to be more expensive to purchase at the airports and are best purchased before arrival or departure.