🇵🇹 Beja Airport / Airbase

Beja Airport (IATA: BYJ, ICAO: LPBJ) is a dual-use public and military facility located 9 km northwest of Beja, Portugal. It is officially designated as Air Base No. 11 (BA11) by the Portuguese Air Force.

Notable Features and History:

• The airbase was established on October 21, 1964, initially as a training facility for the West German Air Force due to airspace limitations in West Germany.
• It features two parallel runways, with the largest being 3,450 meters (11,319 ft) long and the other 2,951 meters (9,682 ft) long, both asphalt. Beja's main runway is the only one in mainland Portugal capable of accommodating an Airbus A380.
• A civilian terminal was constructed in 2011, aiming to attract low-cost carriers. The inaugural civilian flight took place on April 13, 2011, to Praia, Cape Verde.
• Despite being the only airport in the Alentejo region, it has struggled to attract regular scheduled passenger flights.

Current Status:

• Beja Airport is operated by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal.
• It primarily serves as a military airbase for the Portuguese Air Force, hosting training squadrons, a helicopter squadron, and a maritime patrol squadron.
• Civilian operations are limited, with no scheduled passenger flights as of recent reports. It occasionally handles charter flights.
• The airport is used by Hi Fly and its Maltese subsidiary for aircraft parking, and a new hangar is being built for aircraft maintenance.
• Discussions have taken place regarding its potential reconversion for cargo use, serving as a logistics platform.
• The airport's administration hours for civil operations are Monday to Thursday from 08:30 to 17:15 and Friday from 08:30 to 12:30, with extensions possible upon request. Military administration is H24.

*Sources researched: ais.nav.pt, en.wikipedia.org, vinci-airports.com, centreforaviation.com*