Ciudad Real Airport, Spain, once envisioned as a major transportation hub, opened in 2008 with high hopes of becoming an alternative to Madrid Barajas Airport.

       Despite its ambitious plans, the airport failed to attract sufficient commercial traffic and closed just three years later, becoming one of Spain’s most infamous "ghost airports."

       Located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Madrid, Ciudad Real Airport was the first privately funded international airport in Spain. Built at a cost of over €1.1billion (￡918.6million), the airport featured a 13,500-foot (4,100-meter) runway, one of the longest in Europe, capable of handling large aircraft such as the Airbus A380.

       A high-speed AVE train station was also planned to connect the airport to Madrid and Seville, reducing travel times and making it an attractive alternative to the congested Madrid Barajas Airport.

       The terminal was designed to accommodate 2.5 million passengers annually, with expectations that low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Vueling would operate frequent flights.

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       Despite its state-of-the-art facilities, Ciudad Real Airport struggled to attract airlines and passengers. During its brief operational period, it served only 190,000 passengers, a fraction of its projected capacity. At its peak, the airport handled just three flights per week, with airlines such as Vueling and the now-defunct Air Berlin offering limited services.

       By 2010, the airport was declared bankrupt, burdened by massive debts. The last commercial flight, operated by Vueling, departed on October 29, 2011, marking the official end of the airport’s short-lived commercial operations.

       After years of abandonment, Ciudad Real Airport was auctioned off multiple times. It was eventually sold in 2019 to Ciudad Real International Airport S.L. (CRIA) for €56.2million (￡46.9million), a fraction of its original construction cost.

       While it never reopened as a passenger airport, it found a second life as a storage and maintenance facility for aircraft. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when thousands of flights were grounded worldwide, Ciudad Real Airport became a crucial location for parking unused planes.

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       The airport is also used for pilot training and aircraft testing, thanks to its expansive runway and low air traffic, making it an ideal site for aviation operations that require large open space.

       Although the airport has yet to regain commercial flights, its current role as a storage and maintenance hub has ensured it remains at least partially active in Spain’s aviation industry.

       Some investors have proposed revitalisation efforts, but without a strong demand for additional commercial airports in Spain, its future as a passenger hub remains uncertain.