Airports / Portugal / PDL
João Paulo II Airport.
Ponta Delgada, Portugal · 259 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.1/5
Google rating
5,096 ratings
0
Operators based
259
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
53 nm
To the nearest alternate
Santa Maria Airport (SMA).
Overview
Located in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, João Paulo II Airport (LPPD / PDL) operates as a large commercial airport. The field lies at an elevation of 259 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
PDL has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Santa Maria Airport (SMA, 53 nm), Lajes Airport (TER, 90 nm), and São Jorge Airport (SJZ, 129 nm). PDL offers a single 8,192-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of PDL vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from PDL, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
LPPD
IATA
PDL
FAA / Local
LPPD
Elevation
259 ft
Coordinates
37.7412° N · 25.6979° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Portugal fields
state range 5–2,241 ft
At 259 ft, PDL sits lower than 52% of the 31 Portugal fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 8,192 ft
- 12/308,192 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 8,192 ft
PDL's 8,192 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 53nmSMASanta Maria AirportVila do Porto
- 90nmTERLajes AirportPraia da Vitória
- 129nmSJZSão Jorge AirportVelas
- 136nmGRWGraciosa AirportSanta Cruz da Graciosa
- 138nmPIXPico AirportPico Island
- 150nmHORHorta AirportHorta
Location
Open the full mapLPPD · João Paulo II Airport · Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from PDL on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 2,087 nm | 5h 15m |
| New York (TEB) | 2,226 nm | 5h 35m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 2,405 nm | 6h 0m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 2,802 nm | 6h 55m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 2,815 nm | 6h 57m |
| Miami (MIA) | 2,837 nm | 7h 0m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 2,875 nm | 7h 5m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 3,414 nm | 8h 20m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use PDL?
- João Paulo II Airport's longest paved runway is 8,192 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at PDL?
- João Paulo II Airport has one runway; the longest measures 8,192 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to PDL?
- The closest alternate is Santa Maria Airport (SMA), about 53 nm away, followed by Lajes Airport (TER) at 90 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from PDL to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 5h 15m (2,087 nm), New York about 5h 35m (2,226 nm), Washington DC about 6h 0m (2,405 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.