Albacete Airport

Albacete Airport Los Llanos Air Base Aeropuerto de Albacete / Base Aérea de Los Llanos
IATA: ABC – ICAO: LEAB
Summary
Airport type	Public/Military
Operator	Aena
Location	Albacete, Spain
Elevation AMSL	2,302 ft / 702 m
Coordinates
Map
LEAB Location of airport in Spain
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 09/27 2,700 8,858 Asphalt
Sources:

Albacete Airport (IATA: ABC, ICAO: LEAB) is an airport located at the Los Llanos Air Base, about 4 miles (6 kilometres) south of the city of Albacete, the capital of the province of Albacete in Castile-La Mancha, Spain.

The airport is served by road CM-3203. It began operation as a civilian airport on 1 July 2003, after seventy-plus years solely used by the military. The first flight was flown by Hola Airlines to the Balearic Islands. Albacete and Ciudad Real Central Airport are the only public airports in Castilla La Mancha. However, since the closure of Ciudad Real Central Airport and the cessation of scheduled services from Albacete, the region has been left without any scheduled passenger services.

History

Construction started in 1913, but was then quickly stopped, with operations only starting in 1929 after the Spanish Aviation Company (CEA) took up a contract for pilot training. During the Spanish Civil War, the base was used by military rebels, and from 26 July 1936 by the Republicans. On cessations of activities the newly formed Spanish Air Force established the 13th Bomber Squadron, later becoming Ala26. After World War II with an anticipated increase in civilian traffic, the Spanish government acquired the site in July 1946, increasing the runway to 2,050 metres (6,730 ft). Closed to civil traffic in 1955, in 1965 it reopened to the Albacete Flying Club. In 1962 Ala37 replaced Ala26, equipped with the Douglas DC-3 freighter. In 1975, Ala14 took over residency, equipped with the Dassault Mirage F1 fighter. In 1991, due to the promotion of Albacete Balompié to the first division, the airport reopened to civilian charter traffic.

Facilities

Opened again to civilian traffic in 2003, in November 2005 the Ministry of Public Works inaugurated the new Terminal Building, with a surface area of 2,200 square metres (24,000 sq ft). Situated at an elevation of 2,302 feet (702 m) above mean sea level, today it has one runway designated 09/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,700 by 60 metres (8,858 ft × 197 ft).

The civilian-run maintenance facility La Maestranza Aérea de Albacete is responsible for the modifications and overhaul of some military equipment, including all Dassault Mirage F1 (retired in 2013, replaced by Eurofighter Typhoon), Canadair CL-215 and CASA C-101.

Airlines and destinations

Interior view of the terminal

There are no scheduled services from Albacete Airport. The airport is only served by a number of charter services from carriers such as Privilege Style.

NATO TLP

Since July 2009, the base has been the site of NATO's Tactical Leadership Program, taking over from Belgium's Florennes Air Base.

Accidents

Main article: 2015 Los Llanos Air Base crash

In January 2015, during TLP2015-1, several NATO air forces sited deployments to the base, including four F-16 Block 50 fighter aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force 341 Squadron, supported by 41 persons pilots and technicians from 111 Combat Wing, normally located at Nea Aghialos Air base. On 26 January 2015, a Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed into other aircraft at the base, causing an explosion which killed 10 people, including both pilots. A further 13 individuals were injured, six of them severely.

Statistics

Total Passengers by Year:

Year	Passengers
2003	4,666
2004	15,055
2005	15,992
2006	17,520
2012	3,916
2013	1,211

External links

• Albacete Airport, official Aena web site
• Albacete Airport at Google Maps
• Current weather for LEAB at NOAA/NWS