Ponta Delgada Airport

Ponta Delgada is a small, basic, regional airport, very close to the city. Easy to use, everything within short walk distance. Aircraft are parked close to the terminal, but there are no air bridges, so passengers have to walk between the aircraft and the terminal. Experienced about 15-20 min queue at check in and security check, but the airport staff were all quite nice, helpful and doing their best. Long boarding procedure. The departure hall is pretty modern, but offer very limited waiting area and amenities. Clear and loud announcements. The terminal gets quite crowded when there are few departures at the same time.

I like smallish, unfussy, convenient airports - they are much easier for the traveller than the huge hub airports. The airport seems relatively new. The road access is easy. Check-in was quick and efficient. Catering and some commercial outlets are reasonable. Passports are checked prior to gates, although the e-system was not available on the day of our visit. I wasn't wildly impressed by the seat comfort, which was well tested due to a flight delay. But overall pretty good.

Staff at Ponta Delgada were not friendly or helpful. No concern for the well-being of passengers and it is simply amazing that we need to use a coin to get one of the carts for the luggage. Waiting time at security was far too long for such a small airport and no one seemed to care to provide passengers with info when the flight was late. Lots of noise and loud speaking people - I have been in much cleaner airports and lighting in the terminal is poor.

I have flown into out of and through Ponta Delgada. As the end or start of a flight it is fine and that is the basis of my rating. A nice small airport. However if you are flying through it is awful. You have to walk from the aircraft no matter what the weather and the transit lounge is life a glassed in prison. Very limited amenities. Even shopping is limited although you can see the much bigger shops through the glass.

Much much improved airport. Good facilities before entering the security area and good ones afterwards too. The airport and the region more airlines to offer more competition and better prices but PDL can't do anything about that. There is also a restaurant on the second level. Too bad that the view is into the terminal and not over the runway. That would be great. Also big planes can now come to the terminal. Passengers still walk on the tarmac and during the winter - that can be a challenge.

PDL has been improved at least before security. On a recent flight out of PDL to BOS the departure lunge was incredibly hot and steamy. There are a few amenities but waiting for a flight in the heat and humidity made an end to an enjoyable trip very unpleasant.

A lovely little airport. Everything is within easy walking distance of everything else. With so few flights there is none of the stress associated with the main European hubs. Arriving and leaving security and luggage collection is all very quick and easy. Even walking to the car rental pick up point is only a two minute stroll.

A neat and tidy airport with adequate and very clean facilities and helpful (SATA) staff who even when under pressure due to a cancelled flight and two delays were helpful and friendly. The airport is small but even with two flight movements did not seem crowded.

Good airport located in Ponta Delgada Sao Miguel Azores Islands. The main terminal is about five years old and quite spacious. There seem to be amenities for waiting passengers to help pass the time. SATA Air Acores is the main tenant with inter-island flights as well as domestic and international flights. PDL still has one walk on the tarmac to the smaller aircraft for boarding and disembarking. Larger aircraft park across the runway and passengers have to take shuttle buses to the terminal. This can be problematic if the weather is bad or passengers are in some way disabled. I have walked down slippery stairs to have to wait under the wing for a shuttle bus. That can be a nuisance. Customs and immigration are fast as well as baggage delivery.