Ciudad Real Central Airport
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The Aeropuerto Central Ciudad Real ( formerly Don Quijote Airport ) was a commercial airport in the southern Spanish city of Ciudad Real. At its opening in November 2008, he was the first privately operated international airport in the country. Lack sufficient air traffic commercial operation was set end of October 2011. In April 2012, the airport was closed.
Description and History
On the smaller airports unusually long airstrip also widebody aircraft can land. Thus, the airport would have been suitable to relieve the high traffic air hub of Madrid -Barajas, without, however, offer connecting flights. To the south, launching small aircraft but may due to the altitude of the airport and the high temperatures do not reach full engine power, which can lead to problems, since a mountain range located towards the southern compulsory reporting point Sierra.
Already in June 2010, the airport had to file due to continued low passenger numbers insolvency. The debt at that time amounted to 290 million euros. Situated directly on the Tower apron for general aviation was due to the low traffic numbers never in operation. The only scheduled flights to Barcelona and Paris -Charles de Gaulle were operated by Vueling. Instead of the calculated 2.5 million passengers per year, only about 100,000 passengers were handled in the first half of 2011.
On 31 October 2011, the line has ceased operations. The airport is one of the largest investment ruins of Spain. On 13 December 2011, announced that the airport by decision of a commercial court for a year shall cease operating. For now, the airport was still used for general aviation in operation ( it landed even private jets ), in April 2012 the flight operations were completely set. To signal the closed airport visible from the air, yellow crosses were plotted on the runway. Maintenance will continue to be made on the premises.
The bankruptcy judge ruled the purposes for which he wanted to rent in the meantime the airport. The first customers was a film director Pedro Almodóvar, who a backdrop for his film " Los amantes pasajeros " (flying lovers ) was looking for. Here, gathered at the airport and more curious than ever. Then came television, which also required a wide runway for a documentary about a plane crash. Finally, the judge was still a car company permission to use the premises as a test track.
In August 2013 it was announced that the insolvent company operating CR Aeropertos the airport a sale at a price of about € 100 million - compared to more than 400 million euro construction costs - seeks. It should be possible to find a buyer December 27, 2013, the airport is a public auction to the highest bidder by the insolvency administrator.
According to media reports, it is in investment banks in Spain and London as "sufficiently certain knowledge " that it is " the initiators of Ciudad Real was never about, an economically viable to actually work ." The initiators were mainly construction companies that have earned so much in the building that their low capital participation could be written off at the airport itself.
Transport links
The Airport is located in Spain's south-central region, about 230 kilometers south of Madrid. He had a break point on the high-speed line Madrid- Seville. With the high-speed train, the capital of Spain in 50 minutes and Sevilla was able to reach one and a half hours. With the task of air traffic and the breakpoint has been closed, the trains go by.
Remarkable
The British car show Top Gear use the airport in Season 20 Episode 3 as a filming location during a road trip to southern Spain in three " affordable " supercar. He was referred to as ghost airport and the new runway was used to test the speed of each car.