A fun fair under the runway at Madeira Airport.

It’s the same airport that also has a circus, a boatyard and a few tennis courts under the runway.

There is almost a whole village underneath the airport runway.

This is one of the most quirky airports in the world. First of all due to the very unique runway. Madeira Island is almost vertical. It has hardly any flat parts on the entire island.

In 2000, the government decided to extend the runway. It was very short in the past and that was making it dangerous too. Because there are no flat parts on the island, it was difficult to extend it.

The Brazilian construction company Andrade Gutierrez came up with a solution to the problem. They build the runway extension on 180 giant pillars. So the runway today is kinda like a giant bridge. Sitting on top of the rugged terrain.

There is plenty of space under the runway at Madeira airport.

You have a few tennis courts under the runway in Madeira.

Building a runway like that was an enormous feat in itself. But what makes the airport super quirky is that the locals started constructing things directly under the runway. And turned the area into a big recreational complex.

The Madeira runway is a fantastic piece on engineering.

So these days you have tennis courts. A fun fair. A boat yard. And a traveling circus right below all the airplanes which you can easily hear land and take off, as you are enjoying an ice cream or a fun ride at the fun fair directly beneath. The locals have grown so used to it. When I mentioned to some of the locals working at the fun fair yesterday, that it was a bit crazy with all the roaring planes directly above us: They just told me that this is perfectly normal. and said that the planes never come down below the runway anyway 🙂

They have a circus under the runway too.

So if you are heading to Madeira airport, then look a little closer when entering or exiting. And you might just catch a glimpse of a tennis game or some kids riding a carousel underneath the runway.

People at the observation deck at Madeira airport.

Madeira airport is in a spectacular location.

You can even go to the toilet under the runway.