Here is everything you need to know about Bilbao Airport (BIO), the main gateway to the Basque Country.
Bilbao Airport (IATA: BIO) is the primary airport in the Basque region, located in northern Spain.
It is situated in Loiu, about 12 km from the center of Bilbao, making it very easy and quick to get from the airport to the city center.
Additionally, there are regular buses connecting Bilbao Airport to other cities in the Basque Country, such as San Sebastian and Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Indeed, this airport is a crucial gateway for both tourists and business travelers in the region.
Therefore, in this article, you will find general information about Bilbao Airport, how to get from the airport to the city center, direct flights, and airlines that operate at this airport.
It also includes suggestions for hotels near the airport, in case you need them, as well as information I consider relevant for those traveling to Bilbao for the first time.
General Information about Bilbao Airport
Bilbao Airport was inaugurated in 1948 and has undergone several expansions and modernizations over the years.
The current terminal, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, was inaugurated in 2000 and is known for its modern and functional architecture.
It has the capacity to accommodate over 5 million passengers per year.
How to get from Bilbao Airport to the city center
The airport is well-served by buses that connect directly to the center of Bilbao, as well as other nearby locations.
Therefore, the most economical way to get from the airport to the center of Bilbao is by bus, taking the A3247 line.
The bus stop is located outside the airport, and buses depart every 20 minutes during the day. You can expect a journey of about 15 minutes to the center of Bilbao, with the ticket costing 3 euros.
Additionally, Uber is available in Bilbao.
Another option to consider is renting a car at the airport and driving to Bilbao or another place in the Basque Country.
Several car rental companies operate at the airport, including international brands like Hertz, Avis, and Europcar.
To get the best prices on car rentals in Bilbao, it is best to book online in advance. I use and recommend Discovercars for car rentals, and it has always worked very well.
👉Check the cost of car rentals in Bilbao.
If you’re looking for information about flights and which airlines operate from Bilbao Airport, keep reading!
Flights and Airlines at Bilbao Airport
- AEGEAN AIRLINES: ATENAS (ATH)
- AER LÍNGUA: DUBLIN (DUB)
- AR ARÁBIA MAROC: TANGER (TNG) + TETUAN (TTU)
- AIR EUROPA: LANZAROTE CÉSAR MANRIQUE (ACE)+ MADRID-BARAJAS (MAD) + PALMA DE MAIORCA (PMI) + TENERIFE NORTE (TFN)
- AIR FRANCE: PARIS /CHARLES DE GAULLE (CDG)
- AIR NOSTRUM: MADRID-BARAJAS (MAD) + SANTIAGO (SCQ) + VALENCIA (VLC) + VIGO (VGO)
- ALBA STAR: MILAN /MALPENSA (MXP)
- BRUSSELS AIRLINES: BRUSSELS (BRU)
- EASYJET: MILAN /MALPENSA (MXP) + BRISTOL (BRS) + LONDRES /GATWICK (LGW) + MANCHESTER (MAN) + GINEBRA (GVA)
- EDELWEISS AIR AG: ZURICH (ZRH)
- EUROWINGS: DUSSELDORF (DUS) + HAMBURGO (HAM) + STUTTGART (STR)
- IBERIA: MADRID-BARAJAS (MAD)
- K.L.M. ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES: AMSTERDAM /SCHIPHOL (AMS)
- LUFTHANSA: FRANKFURT (FRA) + MUNICH (MUC)
- NORWEGIAN AIR SWEDEN AOC AB: COPENHAGUE (CPH)
- SATA INTERNACIONAL: PONTA DELGADA /NORDELA (PDL)
- TAP PORTUGAL: LISBOA (LIS)
- TRANSAVIA (TRA): EINDHOVEN (EIN)
- TURKISH AIRLINES: ISTAMBUL (IST)
- VOLOTEA: ALICANTE-ELCHE (ALC) + ATENAS (ATH) + CASTELLÓN (CDT) + FARO (FAO) + FLORENCIA / PERETOLA (FLR) + GRAN CANARIA (LPA) + IBIZA (IBZ) + LYON (LYS) + MALAGA-COSTA DEL SOL (AGP) + MARRAKECH (RAK) + MENORCA (MAH) + MURCIA INTERNACIONAL (RMU) + NAPOLES (NAP) + OPORTO (OPO) + PALMA DE MALLORCA (PMI) + PARIS /ORLY (ORY) + ROMA /FIUMICINO (FCO) + SANTORINI (JTR) + SEVILLA (SVQ) + TENERIFE SUR (TFS) + VALENCIA (VLC) + VENECIA /MARCO POLO (VCE)
- VUELING AIRLINES: ALICANTE-ELCHE (ALC) + AMSTERDAM /SCHIPHOL (AMS) + BARCELONA-EL PRAT JOSEP TARRADELLAS (BCN) + BRUSELAS (BRU) + COPENHAGUE (CPH) + FARO (FAO) + FLORENCIA / PERETOLA (FLR) + FUERTEVENTURA (FUE) + GRAN CANARIA (LPA) + GRANADA-JAÉN F.G.L. (GRX) + HAMBURGO (HAM) + IBIZA (IBZ) + LANZAROTE CÉSAR MANRIQUE (ACE) + LISBOA (LIS) + LONDRES /GATWICK (LGW) + MALAGA-COSTA DEL SOL (AGP) + MARRAKECH (RAK) + MENORCA (MAH) + MILAN /MALPENSA (MXP) + OPORTO (OPO) + PALMA DE MALLORCA (PMI) + PARIS /CHARLES DE GAULLE (CDG) + ROMA /FIUMICINO (FCO) + SANTIAGO (SCQ) + SEVILLA (SVQ) + TENERIFE NORTE-C. LA LAGUNA (TFN) + VALENCIA (VLC) + ZURICH (ZRH)
- WIZZ AIR HUNGARY (WZZ): VARSOVIA (WAW)
- WIZZ AIR MALTA (WMT): VIENA (VIE).
Direct flights from Bilbao to the United Kingdom and the United States of America
For the United Kingdom, Bilbao provides multiple direct flight options.
British Airways operates direct flights to London Heathrow, allowing easy access to the UK’s capital.
EasyJet offers direct flights to London Gatwick, providing another convenient route to London.
Additionally, Vueling connects Bilbao to London Luton, catering to various preferences.
For those interested in visiting Manchester, easyJet offers direct flights, making the north of England easily accessible. These frequent flights make it simple to plan business or leisure trips to the UK.
Travelers to the United States will find fewer direct options but still viable routes.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Bilbao to major US cities. However, connecting flights through major European hubs like Madrid, London, or Frankfurt are readily available.
Airlines such as Iberia, British Airways, and Lufthansa provide seamless connections to New York, Los Angeles, and other key US destinations.
Although these flights include a stopover, they offer a straightforward and efficient way to reach the United States from Bilbao.
Everything you need to know before traveling to Bilbao Airport
Check-in and Security Procedures at Bilbao Airport
Regarding check-in and passing through security, there are a few important points to note.
Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
Are there hotels near Bilbao Airport?
Yes, there are several hotels and apartments near Bilbao Airport.
My suggestion is the Hotel New Bilbao Airport (3 stars), as it includes a free airport transfer. Additionally, it offers free private parking if you are traveling by rental car.
However, if you want to explore other accommodation options near the airport, check out the map below.
Useful Information and Important Contacts
If you are like me and like to be prepared for (almost) any situation that may occur while traveling, you will want to have the airport information service’s phone numbers and emails at hand.
After all, unforeseen events can happen, and it’s helpful to know where to call. Therefore, the general number for the airport information service is +34 913 211 000.
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