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Madeira Airport · Practical info

Madeira Airport (FNC) — general & practical info

Hours, services and facilities at Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC / LPMA) — written for first-time arrivals, families, accessibility travellers and connecting passengers.

Short answer

Madeira International Airport (FNC, Cristiano Ronaldo) operates 24 hours on the airside but the public terminal is staffed roughly 04:30–01:00. It has free Wi-Fi (madeira-airport-wifi), ATMs landside and airside, a pharmacy, multi-faith chapel, special-assistance service (MyWay) bookable 48 h in advance, lost-and-found at the arrivals information desk, and luggage storage in the arrivals hall. Non-EU passengers clear immigration on arrival; pets travel with a TRACES certificate.

Opening hours & operations

Airside / airfield24 hours, year-round (FNC is open H24 for diversions and freight).
Public terminalTypically 04:30 → 01:00. Outside these hours only ticketed passengers with a same-day flight are admitted.
Check-in opens2 hours before scheduled departure (most carriers).
Check-in closes40 minutes before departure for Schengen, 60 minutes for non-Schengen.
Security cut-off30 minutes before departure — arrive at the gate.

Wi-Fi & connectivity

Free Wi-Fi networkmadeira-airport-wifi — unlimited, no time cap, no registration.
Mobile coverage4G/5G on all three Portuguese networks (MEO, NOS, Vodafone) throughout the terminal.
Charging pointsUSB-A and EU-plug sockets at most gate seating; premium lounge has additional desks.

Money, currency & VAT

CurrencyEuro (€). Portugal is in the Eurozone.
ATMsMultibanco machines landside (arrivals) and airside (after security). Standard EU bank-card fees.
Currency exchangeUnicâmbio landside in arrivals — open during all flight hours. Rates worse than ATMs; only for cash emergencies.
VAT refund (non-EU residents)Tax-free desk in departures (airside). Have stamped invoices and unused goods ready before security.

Special assistance (MyWay / PRM)

Service nameMyWay — operated by ANA across all Portuguese airports.
Who it's forPassengers with reduced mobility, visual or hearing impairments, hidden disabilities, unaccompanied minors.
How to bookRequest via your airline at least 48 hours before departure. Carries free of charge.
Meeting pointsThree at FNC: kerbside taxi rank, P1 car park, and the central information desk in arrivals. Press the call button.
Hidden disabilitiesSunflower-lanyard scheme is recognised — collect a lanyard at the information desk on request.

Customs, immigration & security

Schengen statusMadeira is in the Schengen Area. EU/EEA/UK/Swiss travellers move freely; passport stamp not required between Schengen countries.
Non-Schengen arrivalsPassport control in the central hall. Expect 5–20 min queues at peak (UK and Switzerland flights). EES biometric enrolment in force from 2025.
Duty-free allowanceStandard EU rules into Portugal: 200 cigarettes, 1 L spirits or 4 L wine, €430 other goods (air).
Prohibited itemsStandard EU air-security list. Local note: poncha and Madeira wine sold airside are allowed onto Schengen flights with no liquid restriction.

Baggage

Left-luggage / storageBag drop in the arrivals hall (next to car-rental desks). ~€5/bag/day. Open during terminal hours.
Trolley hireFree trolleys at arrivals and outside the terminal — no coin deposit required.
Oversized baggageSurfboards, bikes, golf bags: drop at the oversize-baggage counter to the left of the main check-in row.
Lost / damaged baggageWorld Flight Services (WFS) and Groundforce desks in arrivals near the carousels. Open during all flight hours.

Lost & found

Items lost in the terminalReport at the central information desk in arrivals. Tel: +351 291 520 700.
Items lost on the aircraftContact your airline directly — airport staff cannot board after disembarkation.
Items lost airsideSecurity can be contacted via the information desk; collection is landside only after ID check.

Food, shopping & lounges

Landside diningCafé Costa, Mr Jeff, Nespresso — open from early morning to last arrival.
Airside diningCafé Vista (panoramic), grab-and-go bakery, full-service restaurant near gate 6.
Premium loungeANA Lounge airside — Priority Pass, LoungeKey and paid entry (~€35). Open from 04:30. Hot food, showers, Wi-Fi.
Madeira specialitiesLoja do Bordado (embroidery), Madeira wine shops (Blandy's, Henriques & Henriques), poncha kits.

Health, medical & pharmacy

PharmacyFarmácia do Aeroporto, landside arrivals. Open during all flight hours.
Medical postFirst-aid post in arrivals — staffed paramedic; call via any information desk.
Nearest hospitalHospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça (public) — 20 min by taxi. Hospital Particular da Madeira (private, English-speaking) — 25 min.
Emergency number112 (EU emergency, English-speaking operators).

Family services

Children's play areaNear gate 8, airside. Free, supervised by parents.
Baby-change roomsAll major toilet blocks, both landside and airside.
Pushchairs / strollersMost airlines allow gate-checking — request at the boarding gate.
Unaccompanied minorsHandled by MyWay — book through the airline 48 h ahead.

Pets & assistance animals

Pets in cabin / holdAllowed under each airline's policy. Book in advance — limited slots per flight.
EU pet passportRequired for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling within the EU. Includes rabies vaccination and microchip.
Non-EU arrivalsTRACES certificate required at least 10 days before travel. Veterinary check on arrival at the airport.
Assistance dogsTravel free in the cabin with all carriers. Notify the airline 48 h ahead.

Quiet rooms & religion

Multi-faith chapelLandside, ground floor near the chapel entrance. Open 06:00 – 22:00. Catholic mass weekly (check the chapel notice board).
Quiet spaceThe chapel doubles as a quiet room for prayer or rest at all faiths.
Smoking areasDesignated outdoor zones only — terraces outside arrivals and at the airside smoking yard near gate 7. The terminal is otherwise smoke-free, including e-cigarettes.

Contact & address

OperatorANA Aeroportos de Portugal
Phone+351 291 520 700
AddressAeroporto da Madeira, 9100-105 Santa Cruz, Portugal
Websitehttps://www.madeiraairport.pt/en/fnc/home
IATA / ICAOFNC / LPMA

FAQ — Madeira Airport practical info

Is Madeira Airport open 24 hours?

The airfield is open 24 hours for diversions and cargo, but the passenger terminal is staffed from about 04:30 to 01:00. Outside those hours, only ticketed passengers with a same-day flight are admitted.

Is there free Wi-Fi at Madeira Airport?

Yes — connect to the network 'madeira-airport-wifi'. It is unlimited, free, and has no registration or time cap.

Where do I get help with reduced mobility (PRM)?

Use the MyWay service — book through your airline at least 48 hours before departure. On arrival at the airport, press the call button at any of the three MyWay meeting points (taxi rank, P1 car park, central information desk in arrivals).

Can I store my luggage at Madeira Airport?

Yes. The left-luggage / bag-drop counter is in the arrivals hall next to the car-rental desks. Cost is about €5 per bag per day. Open during all flight hours.

What is the security cut-off at Madeira Airport?

Plan to be through security 30 minutes before departure. Check-in closes 40 minutes before departure for Schengen flights and 60 minutes for non-Schengen flights (UK, Switzerland, etc.).

Where do I report lost property?

Items lost in the terminal: the central information desk in arrivals or call +351 291 520 700. Items lost on the aircraft: contact your airline directly — airport staff cannot board the aircraft after passengers have disembarked.

Can I travel with my pet to Madeira?

Yes. EU travellers need an EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination and microchip. Non-EU arrivals need a TRACES health certificate at least 10 days before travel and clear a veterinary check on arrival. Each airline has its own cabin / hold rules — book the pet slot before booking the ticket.

Is there an ANA lounge at Madeira Airport?

Yes, the ANA Lounge is airside (after security). It accepts Priority Pass, LoungeKey and paid entry (~€35). It opens at 04:30 and serves hot food, drinks, showers and Wi-Fi.

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