Ghost airport reopens after being abandoned for 14 years

Ciudad Real International Airport, long dubbed a 'ghost airport' after bankruptcy in April 2012, reopened earlier this year under new ownership. Built at a cost of about €1 billion, it features a 4,100-meter runway designed to handle large aircraft such as the Airbus A380. During the Covid pandemic, the facility served as temporary storage for grounded planes, reinforcing its reputation. Located about 150 miles from Madrid, it has struggled to attract commercial traffic, with passenger flights now planned to resume in 2026 for private European and U.S. services.

The revival comes under new ownership and a private-flight focus, with initial operations limited to private flights.