FARO AIRPORT CLOSED

[smudger]

Today's flight from Prestwick still to leave. Airport website not airline website!!! Ash cloud all over again!!!
Agree with comments about lack of info from official sources, would be useful if Forum updates included source of info.
And I went and bought a bottle of Gordon's Gin for my wife's arrival tomorrow!!

[logicbob]

The departures building was a disaster area the end canopy had colapsed and broken in half, people were camped out in the car parks due to the delayed flights. As usual no information about what was hapening, we found a nice rep from one of the travel companies who was able to tell us what was hapening. Our daughter arrived late but safe so all is OK. I do not think this is going to be a quick fix, so if you are traveling in the next couple of days be prepared.

[martin]

video news report from SIC lunchtime news..several interviews with irish passengers

see here (you may have to do a search from this link) at time of writing its the 4th report on top line


http://sicnoticias.sapo.pt/

[Bruce Wallis]

My sisters 1615 flight from Faro to Stansted took off about 1 1/2 hours late. most Faro-UK,flights, look like they are running about 2 hours late.

[EMM]

We got to the aiprort about 5.40 this morning after one of the scariest drives I have had in years.
We found a scene of confusions and chaos as the roof had collapsed about 10 mins before, the fire and ambulances had not yet arrived.
Most of the temporary fences and signs had blown down and sheets of metal were flying about.
Liz,s Bristol flight was the second one to leave 3 hrs late at that time approx 10.00am nothing else was scheduled in or out. Scenes on PT TV indicate that many passengers will be camping out overnight.
Fortunately most of the damage seems to have been limited to Faro and it immediate area.
Little evidence of any damage in Lagos where I was today, apart from a lot of leaves and small branches,

[fmm]

Most flights to the UK went without a problem - the 4pm flight to Gatwck was only delayed 1.5 hours which I didn't think was too bad. They cancelled some flights to other European destinations, but this is probably because they did not get the planes into Faro (or did not try as hard as Monarch, EasyJet and Ryan Air). Some Lisbon flights were also cancelled.

They were doing a pretty good job and although people were all over the place, they had a system in place which seemed to be working reasonably well considering there was no passport control, no arrivals hall and half the check in areas were closed.

[Polli62]

Gosh how did they function, must have been almighty difficult. Some people will complain about things but what can you do in those circumstances, the photos of the damage looked horrific. Well done Faro Airport for trying to keep the service for passengers on the move.

[ron5000]

My daughter has just taken off from Luton. Due to take off 0710 this morning so not to bad.

Some friends of mine were on that flight and arrived faro 19.30 so not so bad

[ANDY]

They estimate a month to resume normally operations at the airport and fix the damaged area, but I wouldnt hold them to it.
You would of thought there web site would have been more informative.

[martin]

I went this morning, almost half the terminal building is out of bounds, to meet anyone you have to stand next to car park 6 and buses bring the passengers with their cases there, there is no announcement board so you have no idea if the plane has arrived or what or if the bus is the one you want. Its rather chaotic and will be bad if it rains.

Perhaps they can put new roof sheeting on in a month but the bent section will take much longer, in my view they will have to remove that part of the roof. Loads of signs down and the car park shading all bent.................the odd thing is that the car park pay ticket machines are untouched by the storm, and the barriers still work...but then I suppose such strange things happen in the "Algarve Triangle"

there was tvi news crew there ..so will be on this lunchtime a report no doubt

[jamielyon4]

A pliots view of the devastation Pliots view

[laserblazer]

Where will we find the YOR Rep?

[jamielyon4]

Where will we find the YOR Rep?

somewhere near Luz after that wind!

[Steen Jakobsen]

Where will we find the YOR Rep?

You'll now be transported around the closed airport terminal by bus and dropped off in front of the building.

YOR car hire is as always at PARK 4, row G, and contracts will now be signed by the yellow van on P4 row G during day light hours and at the meeting point on P4 before 8am or after 19h

Phone numbers are;
00351 969787039 or
00351 969777854 or
00351 962192529 or
00351 967779347

We're sorry about the inconvenience.

[shanagarry]

What's the current situation (Tuesday 25th October @ 14.45).

The website tells you nothing useful and the departures board says there are a few (3) delays - is that accurate?