Madeira Cable Car

You’ll find that there are plenty of things to see and do in Funchal. Some of the city’s most worthwhile attractions are way above sea level and best reached by cable car, but the journey is part of the fun. 

History

The route of the cable car was chosen to replace the old Monte Railway which ran from 1886-1943. Construction of the cable car system began in September 1999; it was opened in November 2000 and has been in service since then. The bottom station is located at Almirante Reis Park in central Funchal. The length of the cable car line is 3,718 m and the height difference 560 m; the journey takes approximately 15 minutes. The cableway has over 39 cabins with 8 seats each, and can transport up to 800 passengers per hour.

On the ride up to Monte, enjoy the amazing view of Funchal bay and surrounding landscape. Upon exiting the Monte station there is a snack bar and souvenir shop.

Monte Cable Car Facts:

• Travels safely between the Campo de Almirante Reis station and Monte Station
• 39 cabins with a capacity for 8 passengers
• A one-way trip is about 3,700 meters and takes approximately 15 minutes
• Stunning views of Funchal
• Many surrounding attractions to visit
• Snack Bar available
• Gift Shops available

For Further Information:

Monte Cable Car Visitor Information:

Tel: 291 780 280 and Fax: 291 780281

Open daily from 09h30 to 17h45

E-mail: info(at)madeiracablecar.com

www.madeiracablecar.com

Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport

Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport, previously known as Madeira Airport, informally also known as Funchal Airport, is an international airport in the civil parish of Santa Cruz, in the Portuguese archipelago and autonomous region of Madeira. The airport is located 13.2 km (8.2 mi) east-northeast of the regional capital Funchal after which it is sometimes informally named. It mostly hosts flights to European metropolitan destinations due to the importance of Madeira as a leisure destination. It is the fourth busiest airport in Portugal.

The airport is considered one of the most peculiarly perilous airports in the world due to its location and its spectacular runway construction. The History Channel program Most Extreme Airports ranked it as the ninth most dangerous airport in the world, and the third most dangerous in Europe after Gibraltar International Airport and Courchevel Altiport.

History

Madeira Airport was officially opened on 18 July 1964, with two 1,600 m (5,249 ft) runways. The first flight ever to land was a TAP Air Portugal Lockheed Constellation with 80 passengers on board.

In 1972, the popularity of visiting the island of Madeira increased, so the runway had to be extended to allow modern and larger aircraft to land. Considered the Kai Tak of Europe because of its singular approach to runway 05, the decision was made to extend the existing runway, instead of building a new one. In the meantime, a brand new terminal was built at the airport in 1973, handling 500,000 passengers.

The new runway and terminal were inaugurated on 6 October 2002, and to mark the occasion, an Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-200, registration TF-ABA, landed at the airport. Although this was a rare event, some TAP Portugal flights currently make scheduled stops at Madeira with Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft on the Lisbon-Caracas-Lisbon route.

In 2016, it was announced that the airport was to be named as Madeira Airport – Cristiano Ronaldo (Aeroporto da Madeira – Cristiano Ronaldo) in honour of Madeira native football player Cristiano Ronaldo. The unveiling of the rebranded terminal took place on 29 March 2017.

Runway

The airport was once infamous for its short runway which, surrounded by high mountains and the ocean, made it a tricky landing for even the most experienced of pilots. Between 1982 and 1986, Madeira's runway was successfully extended by 200 m (656 ft) to a total of 1,800 m (5,906 ft), and also four gates were opened. The original runway was only 1,600 m (5,249 ft) long, but was extended by 200 m (656 ft) 8 years after the TAP Portugal Flight 425 crash of 1977.

In 2000, the runway was again extended this time to 2,781 m (9,124 ft) almost doubling the size of the original runway. As landfill was not a realistic option, the extension was built on a platform, partly over the ocean, supported by 180 columns, each about 70 m (230 ft) tall. The extension of Madeira Airport was conducted by the Brazilian construction company Andrade Gutierrez, and is recognized worldwide as one of the most difficult to achieve due to the type of terrain and orography.

Its innovative solution allowed Funchal to receive the Outstanding Structure Award in 2004 by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, which aims at recognizing the most remarkable, innovative, creative or otherwise stimulating structure completed within the last few years.

Terminal

The airport has a single terminal which opened in 1973. The terminal has 40 check-in desks, 16 boarding gates and 7 baggage belts. There are no air-bridges so passengers either walk the short distance to the terminal or are taken by shuttle bus. The terminal itself is mostly underground.

Modernisation

In 2016, Madeira Airport was modernised and renovated by its operator, ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, as part of an €11 million investment. The renovated terminal area, which was opened in June 2016, by the President of the Autonomous Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, ameliorated the existing 'operational facilities' and facilitated the creation of a brand new shopping area - all in all, doubling the capacity of the airport as a single entity.

According to VINCI Airports, the airport will now "have the capacity to deal with up to 1,400 passengers per hour", and the airport's overall new layout has been designed to enable to accommodation of new stores for national and international brands alike.

The passenger screening area, under the command of Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, increased from 650m² to 1,500m² accommodating an increase of the number of security screening lines, while the passenger holding and verification area also increased from 300m² to 650m². The new adopted layout has overall simplified passenger experience, creating defined areas for Schengen - which the Autonomous Region of Madeira is part of - and non-Schengen and given ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, the operator, the inherent faculty to alternate the terminal based on scheduling. A brand new transfer hall, and 3 new departure gates were also created as part of the project.

Furthermore, the renovation and investment project also accommodated the strengthening and re-profiling of the runway and taxiways, increasing the area usable by in excess of 1,500 m².

A Trans-Atlantic Cruise Port Dream

When you embark on a Madeira cruise it will become clear why this destination is known as the Pearl of the Atlantic - it is simply ‘iridescent’, awash with colour from a breathtaking display of sub-tropical plants and flowers, sky, sea and mountains.

Large cruise ships now dock on the Molhe da Pontinha which juts out into the Funchal’s impressive bay for over half a mile.

Funchal is such an easy town when it comes to 'doing your own thing'. Cruise visitors here will discover that the market town is easily walkable although, the further inland you explore, the steeper and narrower some of the streets become. Locally made wicker furniture, lacework and tapestries all make good buys along with the ubiquitous Madeira wine.
Funchal is also the base for tours to the islands botanical gardens; the fishing village of Camara de Lobos where Churchill went to paint; Camacha, the wicker centre; the levada walks, part of an ancient irrigation system; and to Reids Hotel for traditional afternoon tea, making cruises to Madeira a must see.

Lucky trans-Atlantic voyagers who have Funchal as one of their stops will find cuisine that celebrates the freshest ingredients, a population that is joyous and gracious, activities that run the gamut from vigorous hiking to placid contemplation of nature, and great shopping opportunities for locally made crafts and embroidery.