<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Castell&oacute;n&ndash;Costa Azahar Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The airport was officially declared "open" by local authorities in March 2011, shortly before regional elections and as total cost reached &euro;150 million, despite having neither airline signed up to land there nor government approval to operate. Delayed for several years, commercial flights were due to begin on 1 April 2012, but the first commercial flight to the airport landed on 15 September 2015.</p>
<p class="blog-para">In February 2012, it was reported that modifications would have to be made to the runway before the airport could be brought into use. It was then later reported that the runway was to be dug up entirely. The airport has become a symbol of the wasteful spending that has helped sink Spain deep into a recession and a banking crisis. For instance, the company in charge of running the airport, Aerocas, was found to have spent 26 million euros, a sixth of the cost of the airport, on sponsoring various sports teams in its region. Also, a $375,000, 24-metre-tall statue, often interpreted as a representation of Carlos Fabra, the formerly powerful local politician who was the driving force behind its construction, was erected just outside the airport. Fabra has been under judicial investigation in connection with several cases of corruption and tax evasion, and was sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud in December 2014.</p>
<p class="blog-para">On 14 January 2014, nearly four years after the formal opening of the airport, a first flight departed from Castell&oacute;n-Costa Azahar. Air Nostrum charter flight YW2003 carried the Villarreal CF football team, which is sponsored by the airport itself, to San Sebasti&aacute;n for their Copa del Rey match against Real Sociedad.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The first regular scheduled, albeit seasonal, flights from Castell&oacute;n-Costa Azahar to Bristol and London Stansted, operated by Ryanair, began in September 2015. The European Union has opened a formal investigation into whether both the Canadian company that manages the airport (SNC-Lavalin) and Ryanair are receiving illegal subsidies from the regional government.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Between August and November 2020, three British Airways Boeing 747 aircraft that were retired were transported to Castell&oacute;n-Costa Azahar Airport for dismantling. One aircraft, registration G-CIVD, caught fire and was severely damaged.</p>
<p class="blog-para">During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Castell&oacute;n-Costa Azahar Airport became a storage facility for Ukraine International Airlines fleet of six Boeing 737 aircraft.</p>
<p class="blog-para">In 2022, a number of airlines scheduled new routes from the airport. These included Wizz Air to Budapest, Ryanair to Dublin and Brussels South Charleroi and Air Nostrum connecting the airport domestically to Madrid.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport was constructed in 1959&ndash;1960. It was expanded to be able to host international flights between 2005 and 2009.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport was officially renamed after the highly acclaimed singer Ces&aacute;ria &Eacute;vora in 2012. It has a modern terminal of about 11,000 square metres (120,000 sq ft) and has the capacity to process about 500 passengers an hour.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Located on the island of S&atilde;o Vicente, S&atilde;o Pedro Ces&aacute;ria &Eacute;vora Airport is the main airport serving the islands of S&atilde;o Vicente, Santo Ant&atilde;o and Mindelo. Inaugurated in 1960, the airport is operated by Aeroportos Seguran&ccedil;a A&eacute;rea.</p>
<p class="blog-para">On 18-Jul-2022, Cabo Verde's Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva and VINCI Airports president Nicolas Notebaert signed a 40 year concession contract for S&atilde;o Pedro Ces&aacute;ria &Eacute;vora Airport. Cabo Verde Airports finalised financial arrangements and started operating the airport on 24-Jul-2023. VINCI Airports own 70% of the Concession Company and VINCI subsidiary ANA Aeroportos de Portugal own 30%.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Ces&aacute;ria &Eacute;vora Airport is Cape Verde's fourth-busiest airport, located on the island of S&atilde;o Vicente, nearly 5 kilometres from the centre of Mindelo. It is located in the valley area in the west of the island and is north of the village of S&atilde;o Pedro.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The international airport Ces&aacute;ria &Eacute;vora is Cape Verde's fourth-busiest airport, located on the island of S&atilde;o Vicente. Its runway is 1.975 metres long and its width is 45 metres.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Given the shape of the island, the airport is very close to a series of mountains, which during the night and in poor visibility can hardly be recognized.</p>
<p class="blog-para">LUXSOLAR has made available its experience to provide an Aircraft Warning Light system powered by solar panels, to be installed on these mountains to increase visibility. In particular, MIOL-B and LIOL-B beacons connected to solar panels sized according to local sun irradiation have been provided.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Ces&aacute;ria &Eacute;vora Airport is Cape Verde's third most-used airport located in the island of S&atilde;o Vicente, located nearly 5 kilometres from the centre of Mindelo. It is located in the valley area in the west of the island and is north of the village of S&atilde;o Pedro. The airport was officially renamed after the highly acclaimed singer Ces&aacute;ria &Eacute;vora on March 8, 2012.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="History Castell&oacute;n&ndash;Costa Azahar Airport" src="../../main/img/airport/cca/10.webp" alt="History Castell&oacute;n&ndash;Costa Azahar Airport"></p>