Faro Airport is gearing up for a summer of serious travel, with more routes, new airlines and a 4% rise in overall capacity compared with last year.
The numbers were revealed on February 26 at the Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa (BTL) fair by Algarve tourism chief André Gomes. In total, 632,538 extra seats will be available. That’s despite the loss or reduction of some operators, which means 260,032 fewer seats overall from certain airlines.
The United Kingdom, which has historically been the Algarve’s main tourism market, is unsurprisingly driving most of the growth, with 326,000 additional seats. Poland follows with 91,000 more seats, and Spain adds 57,000.
British travellers will see more choice than ever, as Jet2.com will link Faro to London Gatwick, Wizz Air is launching flights to London Luton, and TUI Airways will connect the Algarve to Cardiff in Wales.
Wizz Air is also strengthening links to Katowice, Warsaw Chopin and Bucharest Otopeni.
Meanwhile, Ryanair launches a new route to Warsaw Modlin from March 29.
Flights to Iceland are back too. Icelandair replaces Play – which declared insolvency in September 2025 – and will connect Faro to Reykjavik.
AirBaltic resumes flights to Riga, and easyJet is launching a new route to Newcastle.
At home, TAP Air Portugal will operate Faro–Funchal all year round, extending the service beyond summer.
Across the Atlantic, Faro will continue directly linked to North America. There will be three weekly flights to Toronto in peak season, operated by Air Transat, while United Airlines resumes direct flights between the Algarve and Newark, New York, from May to September.
The biggest setback comes from Germany, down 139,000 seats – a 14% cut.
Condor and Marabu are ending operations to Faro, meaning a combined loss of 125,000 seats. Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands are also scaling back.
Still, André Gomes insists the overall picture is strong.
“We are registering with appreciation the interest of new airlines to fly to Faro, such as Wizz Air and Icelandair, as well as new routes and increases in capacity on existing routes, namely more than 600,000 seats made available in summer 2026,” the president of the Algarve’s tourism board (RTA) and association (ATA) said at BTL.
Brazil firmly in sights
Speaking to journalists, Gomes confirmed a clear goal before the end of his mandate, which runs until 2028: “A connection to Brazil, without a doubt,” he said, adding: “I would very much like it to be with TAP.”
Faro-US link “proof of long-haul success”
Despite his preference for Portugal’s flagship carrier, Gomes insisted that he is “open to working with all airlines” and confirmed that talks are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Algarve’s direct link to the United States, operated by United Airlines, is being hailed as a model for future long-haul growth.
The route, launched for the first time last year, has helped the Algarve capitalise on the steadily growing number of Americans travelling to the region.
“It went very well; in fact, the numbers demonstrate that it is one of the fastest-growing markets for tourists in our region,” he said.
Gomes also revealed that the direct route could even run for a longer period than last year.
The tourism chief also paid tribute to Alberto Mota Borges, who led Faro Airport for 11 years before returning to São Miguel to head the Ponta Delgada Airport. He has been replaced by Edgar Carvalho, formerly of Madeira.
“I have to take this opportunity to make a public thank you for the work carried out by Alberto Mota Borges, who was even part of our executive committee and who deserves a round of applause, as he contributed greatly with his commitment, not only at the level of the activity developed at the airport, but above all, at the level of his involvement with all of us, with all these agents of the sector in recent years, allowing Faro Airport, the tourism sector, and the Algarve region to grow in terms of connectivity,” Gomes said.
EES concerns
Looking ahead to this summer, Gomes admitted he is concerned about the change in the airport’s handling operator and the rollout of the European Entry/Exit System (EES).
“I am worried, but determined and confident that we will find solutions,” he said, adding that meetings with authorities are already taking place.
Algarve hoteliers have gone even further and are calling for the suspension of the EES rollout – planned for April – in fear of the “chaos” it could cause at Faro Airport this summer.
Record year in 2025
With the record-breaking 2025 now in the Algarve’s rearview mirror, expectations are naturally high for 2026.
The region welcomed 5.3 million guests, recorded 21 million overnight stays and generated €1.8 billion in revenue last year – an all-time high. Revenue rose 6.5%, outpacing growth in visitor numbers. Faro Airport hit 10 million passengers in November and closed the year at 10.4 million.
Seasonality dropped to 40% – the lowest ever recorded, about five points lower than a decade ago. Growth was in double digits from January to April and again from October to December.
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Camino routes and Geopark boost for Algarve interior
With its sunshine and beaches already famous across the globe, the Algarve’s tourism authorities are now turning their attention to promoting its often-overlooked interior.
At BTL, André Gomes revealed that the tourism board is working to certify the region’s Caminos de Santiago – a vast network of ancient pilgrimage trails across Europe, primarily in Spain, Portugal, and France, all leading to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain.
“Many people don’t know that they also exist in our region,” he said.
However, no timeline was given for when the certification process will be completed.
Gomes also highlighted the growing importance of the Geoparque Algarvensis, an aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark covering the Loulé, Silves, and Albufeira municipalities in central Algarve. In a nutshell, it aims to protect and showcase over 350 million years of geological history, including the region’s fossils, rock formations, landscapes, and cultural traditions.
“In the future, there will be no Algarve without the Geopark,” he said, stressing its importance for the natural, geological and cultural heritage of the region.
It was also announced during the BTL fair that the IUGS Geoheritage 2026 event will take place in the Algarve. The international gathering is expected to bring around 250 researchers from around the world and will focus on palaeontology.
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Discover Algarve by car
The Algarve’s car rental sector took advantage of the BTL fair to present its latest campaign: Algarve by Car, aimed at promoting the region’s car-rental sector as one of the best ways to explore and discover the region.
Designed to show visitors the freedom and flexibility of exploring the region by car, the campaign is promoted as a way of enjoying a full Algarve experience, according to António Valagão, vice-president of the Algarve Rent-a-Car Association (ARA).
The association has rolled out a full marketing campaign, including photo and video shoots across the Algarve, a dedicated website (algarvebycar.pt) with travel tips, routes, and booking requests, plus active social media campaigns on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Paid campaigns target holidaymakers in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Canada, and the US, especially for Easter trips.
“Renting a car gives you autonomy, freedom, security, and a more complete experience,” said Valagão.
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Loulé MED Festival unveils “most international edition” yet
Loulé’s MED Festival is gearing up for its most international edition ever in 2026, with artists from 30 countries converging on the town’s historic centre between June 25 and 28.
Unveiled at the BTL tourism fair, the 22nd edition will see the Algarve event further establish itself as a global world music hub, bringing together sounds from Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia in what organisers describe as a return to the festival’s original DNA.
Over 50 concerts will unfold across five main stages, turning the old town into a crossroads of cultures, rhythms and languages.
Tickets can be purchased at www.bol.pt or the event’s website. As usual, there will be one free-entry day (on June 28).
