--- iata: BIO name: Bilbao Airport city: Bilbao country: Spain lastUpdated: '2026-08-31' officialWebsite: 'https://www.aena.es/es/bilbao.html' sources: - 'https://www.aena.es/es/bilbao.html' - 'https://www.aena.es/en/bilbao/get-to-know-us/presentation.html' - 'https://www.aena.es/doc/detalleprensa/260113-bio-estadisticas-2025.pdf' - 'https://www.aena.es/es/bilbao/como-llegar/autobus.html' - 'https://www.aena.es/es/bilbao/como-llegar/taxi.html' - 'https://www.bizkaia.eus/es/web/bizkaibus/bus-al-aeropuerto' - 'https://www.bizkaia.eus/es/web/bizkaibus/tarifas' - 'https://www.aena.es/es/bilbao/servicios-vip/fast-lane.html' - 'https://serviciosvip.aena.es/vip/es/aeropuertos/bilbao' - 'https://serviciosvip.aena.es/vip/es/aeropuertos/bilbao/salas-vip/urdaibai' - >- https://www.aena.es/es/bilbao/servicios-vip/salas-vip/sala-vip-urdaibai-aeropuerto-bilbao.html - >- https://www.aena.es/es/bilbao/servicios-vip/salas-vip/sala-vip-nervion-aeropuerto-bilbao.html - 'https://www.prioritypass.com/en/lounges/spain/bilbao/bio2-sala-vip' - 'https://www.aena.es/en/bilbao/airport-services/wi-fi.html' - >- https://www.aena.es/en/bilbao/airport-services/categories/other-services.html - 'https://aip.enaire.es/aip/contenido_AIP/AD/AD2/LEBB/LE_AD_2_LEBB_en.html' - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilbao_Airport' quickFacts: - >- Loiu / Sondika, ~9–12 km north of Bilbao centre; IATA BIO / ICAO LEBB; Aena-operated civilian airport (Basque: Bilboko aireportua; nicknamed La Paloma for Santiago Calatrava’s 2000 terminal) - >- Record 7,062,681 passengers in 2025 (+4.2% YoY) — Aena BIO press 13 Jan 2026; third consecutive annual record after 6,777,267 (2024) and 6,336,441 (2023); 54,468 movements (+3.7%); cargo ~1,141 t (Aena presentation); commercial passengers 7,051,157 with 3,154,408 international (+10.6%) and 3,896,749 domestic (−0.5%) - >- Single Calatrava passenger terminal (check-in / central security / airside boarding with Schengen and non-Schengen flows); no metro or Renfe station on the field — Bizkaibus A3247 or road only - >- Twin asphalt runways (ENAIRE AIP LEBB): 12/30 — 2,540 × 45 m (RWY 12) / 2,600 × 45 m (RWY 30; THR 30 displaced 460 m); 10/28 — 1,910 × 45 m (THR 28 displaced 555 m); ILS Cat I published on 12 and 30 — do not copy stale “2,000 / 2,600 m” wiki figures for 10/28 - >- Two Aena VIP lounges: Nervión (planta 2 / mezzanine — the Priority Pass “Sala VIP BIO AIRPORT”) and Urdaibai (planta 3 boarding); Fast Lane €11.10; classic 100 ml security (no published CT / ≤2 L waiver) - >- Bizkaibus A3247 occasional ticket €5 without Barik (official Bizkaibus aviso); Barik is substantially cheaper (CTB ~€1.16 airport product after Apr 2025 revision — verify live deduction); Aena taxi guide ~€27/€30 to Bilbao centre weekday/holiday bentoTips: - label: Transport title: A3247 €5 occasional — or taxi ~€27/€30 detail: >- There is no Metro Bilbao or Renfe stop under the terminal. Default public option is Bizkaibus línea A3247 between Arrivals and Bilbao Intermodal (Termibus), calling Gran Vía 79, Plaza Moyúa / Osakidetza–Hacienda and Alameda Recalde 11. Aena lists airport→city roughly 06:10–23:40 every ~15 minutes (:10/:25/:40/:55) and city→airport roughly 05:00–22:00 every ~15 minutes — confirm the live Bizkaibus timetable on the day. Official Bizkaibus aviso: billete ocasional without Barik is €5 (pay cash or bank card at the Arrivals Bizkaibus booth; Barik can also be topped up there). With Barik the airport product is far cheaper than the occasional ticket (CTB published ~€1.16 after the April 2025 revision — ignore stale €3 third-party guides). Taxis at Arrivals are Asociación Auto Taxis Femade (Aena: ~64 vehicles; book +34 944 800 909 / taxiaeropuertobilbao.com). Aena’s approximate closed-style guide fares: Bilbao centre €27 weekdays / €30 holidays; Termibus €32/€35; Getxo €35/€40 — treat as indicative, not a legal flat fare for every meter destination. Lurraldebus DO04 links Donostia / Zarautz; La Unión A3720 links Vitoria-Gasteiz — useful if you are not ending in Bilbao. summary: >- No rail — A3247 €5 occasional / cheaper with Barik; Aena taxi guide ~€27/€30 to Bilbao. category: timing - label: Security title: Classic 100 ml + Fast Lane €11.10 detail: >- Pack classic EU LAG rules (≤100 ml containers in a clear 1-litre bag; electronics out when asked). BIO has no published CT / ≤2 L liquids waiver on Aena passenger pages — treat it as classic. Single central security feeds the boarding levels. Aena Fast Lane / Fast Track lives between check-in desks 27 and 28 (new location note on Aena ES); open 05:15–22:30. Buy on serviciosvip.aena.es — live cart €11.10 for T1 (3-month validity; airline business / loyalty often includes it — confirm with your carrier). QR + boarding pass at the preferential door reader. UK / Germany leisure banks and Monday morning Vueling waves are when the paid lane pays for itself; quiet midweek Schengen afternoons are often fine without it. Aim ~2.5 hours early for non-Schengen / peak waves, ~2 hours for quiet Schengen. summary: 'Classic 100 ml LAGs; Fast Lane €11.10 between desks 27–28 (05:15–22:30).' category: terminal - label: Lounge title: Nervión (PP) + Urdaibai — two Aena VIPs detail: >- Two Aena-run VIP lounges after security. Sala VIP Nervión sits on the terminal mezzanine (planta 2, boarding area) — this is the lounge Priority Pass lists as “Sala VIP BIO AIRPORT” (Level 2 Mezzanine, after security / passport control when required). PP hours: Mon–Fri 05:30–22:15, Sat 05:30–20:30, Sun 05:00–22:15; max stay typically 3 hours (transit often listed to 4 hours — confirm app). Aena day-pass cart for Nervión starts from ~€44.60 adult / ~€20.60 child. Sala VIP Urdaibai is on planta 3 of the boarding area (Schengen and non-Schengen); Aena hours 05:30–22:30; day pass €45.95 adult / €21.25 child on serviciosvip; Aena stay text usually 3 hours pre-departure (some cart copy has said 4 — confirm desk). UpgradedPoints and PP’s single BIO listing treat Nervión as the PP path; Urdaibai is the usual airline / status / purchased Aena lounge — always confirm the live Priority Pass app before assuming Urdaibai accepts your card. Aena announced an integral Nervión renovation (~€1M) in late August 2026 — expect temporary layout / amenity changes while works run. Neither Aena amenity list advertises showers as a headline feature — do not plan on a shower suite from third-party guides. summary: >- PP = Nervión (mezzanine); Urdaibai is planta 3 Aena day pass / airline status; confirm PP app. category: status - label: Food title: Refill free — then Basque / Aena airside detail: >- Aena lists drinking-water fountains under Other services for Bilbao — empty the bottle before classic 100 ml security, then refill airside (follow fountain pictograms near toilet / boarding corridors). Free Wi-Fi is SSID Airport Free Wifi Aena (Guest email or Aena Club; 15 minutes to verify, then unlimited). Airside F&B is a standard Aena mix plus Basque branding in places — denser than a tiny regional strip, still queues when several Vueling / Volotea / Lufthansa banks board together. Landside Arrivals / check-in retail covers a sealed bottle if you prefer not to hunt for a fountain. Priority Pass does not currently advertise a separate Eat restaurant credit at BIO — lounge access is the PP product. summary: >- Free Aena fountains + Airport Free Wifi Aena; airside F&B adequate, not destination dining. category: food lounges: - name: Sala VIP Nervión zone: Schengen and non-Schengen hours: >- Priority Pass: Mon–Fri 05:30–22:15, Sat 05:30–20:30, Sun 05:00–22:15; Aena ES page also lists ~05:30–22:30 — confirm desk / app (renovation works announced Aug 2026) access: - Priority Pass (listed as Sala VIP BIO AIRPORT) - LoungeKey / DragonPass-style cards (confirm app) - Aena day pass from ~€44.60 adult / ~€20.60 child (serviciosvip.aena.es) - Participating airline / status / Aena Lounge card entitlements bestFor: - Priority Pass holders after security - Work / power before Schengen or non-Schengen boarding - Escaping peak Vueling / leisure banks summary: >- Primary Priority Pass lounge — mezzanine planta 2 after security (passport control when your gate needs it). Compact Aena VIP with catering, Wi-Fi and work areas; walk-in is pricey versus A3247, so PP is the usual path. Watch for 2026 renovation disruption. verdict: worth-it terminal: Single terminal (airside planta 2 / mezzanine) amenities: - Catering / drinks (standard alcoholic drinks on PP) - Gluten-free / kosher / halal / special-diet options (Aena-listed) - Work areas / Wi-Fi / network adapters - Flight information / digital press / TV - Printer - PRM access; animals allowed (Aena-listed) - name: Sala VIP Urdaibai zone: Schengen and non-Schengen hours: '05:30–22:30 daily (Aena)' access: - >- Aena day pass €45.95 adult / €21.25 child (serviciosvip.aena.es; 3-month purchase validity) - Participating airline business / status entitlements - >- Do not assume Priority Pass — PP’s BIO directory currently maps to Nervión; confirm live app before relying on Urdaibai bestFor: - Purchased Aena day-pass guests when Nervión is full - Airline status passengers directed upstairs to planta 3 - Quieter planta 3 wait when open and accepting walk-ins summary: >- Second Aena VIP on planta 3 boarding — same amenity family as Nervión (catering, work areas, special diets). Prefer day pass or airline access; verify PP separately. Max stay typically 3 hours pre-departure under Aena VIP norms (confirm desk in peak periods). verdict: depends terminal: Single terminal (airside planta 3 / boarding) amenities: - Catering / drinks - Gluten-free / kosher / halal / special-diet options (Aena-listed) - Work areas / Wi-Fi / network adapters - Flight information / digital press / TV - Printer - PRM access; animals allowed (Aena-listed) waterOptions: - kind: free name: Airside drinking fountains zone: airside price: Free summary: >- Aena lists drinking fountains under Other services for Bilbao — refill after classic 100 ml security; follow fountain pictograms near toilet blocks and boarding corridors on planta 2 / 3. location: Airside boarding corridors / toilet blocks after security terminal: Single terminal isBestValue: true isBestQuality: true - kind: free name: Landside drinking fountains zone: landside price: Free summary: >- Aena states fountains exist across different parts of the passenger terminal — useful before emptying bottles for security if you spot one in public Arrivals / departures areas. location: Landside check-in / arrivals public areas (follow fountain signs) terminal: Single terminal - kind: purchase name: Landside café & newsstand bottled water zone: landside price: Typically ~€2–€4 for 0.5 L (varies by outlet) summary: >- Sealed bottles from kiosks and cafés before security if you prefer not to hunt for a fountain. location: Arrivals / check-in hall retail terminal: Single terminal - kind: purchase name: Airside café & duty-free bottled water zone: airside price: Typically ~€2–€4 for 0.5 L (varies by outlet) summary: >- Backup sealed bottles from airside F&B and commercial outlets if fountains are busy or hard to spot near your gate bank. location: Airside commercial / gate area after security terminal: Single terminal airportistScore: 7.6 slug: bio region: Europe --- > Markdown for [/airports/bio](/airports/bio). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/bio) - [Lounge directory](/airports/bio/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Bilbao Airport (BIO) Bilbao, Spain · Europe Basque Country’s Calatrava gateway with a record 7.06M passengers in 2025, two Aena VIP lounges (Nervión on Priority Pass), and solid A3247 bus links — still classic 100 ml security and no rail under the terminal. ## Airportist Score **7.6 / 10** - Comfort: 7.5 - Navigation: 7.6 - Food: 7.1 - Transport: 7.3 - Disruption resilience: 7.4 ## At a glance - Passengers: 7.06M (2025) - Terminals: 1 (Calatrava La Paloma) - Typical security: 13 min - On-time: 79% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - Basque Country / Bilbao city breaks without renting a car - Priority Pass holders using Sala VIP Nervión - Vueling / Volotea / Lufthansa leisure and hub feed - Travelers comparing BIO vs SDR / EAS for northern Spain ## Watch out for - Classic 100 ml liquids — no published CT waiver - No metro or Renfe on the field — A3247 or taxi only - Stale €3 bus guides — occasional A3247 is €5 without Barik - Do not confuse with BLQ (Bologna) or nearby SDR / EAS ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/bio/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/bio/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/bio/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/bio/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/bio/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/bio/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/bio/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/bio/reviews.md)