Departure
97%
vs 95% ▲ 2
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport (GCXO) is the older of Tenerife's two international airports, sited in the hills above San Cristobal de La Laguna in the north of the island. Operated by Aena, it is best known among aviators as the airfield of the 1977 disaster, and it remains a challenging destination for pilots owing to its elevation and frequently changeable weather. A single long runway with ILS on both directions makes it a capable field for simulator flights, though terrain and cloud need respect.
Tenerife North, historically known as Los Rodeos, is operated by Aena and serves as the northern gateway to Tenerife in the Canary Islands, complementing the larger Tenerife South airport. It sits at a notable elevation of 2034 feet in hilly terrain, which combined with its exposure to cloud and cross-island weather patterns makes it a field of genuine interest to a simulator pilot seeking a demanding approach. Its long single runway, equipped with ILS in both directions, supports large commercial jet traffic despite the airport's modest size compared with its southern counterpart.
The airport lies in the municipality of San Cristobal de La Laguna, in the north of Tenerife, around 10 kilometres from the island capital of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is one of two international airports on the island, the other being Tenerife South, and operates within controlled airspace served by its own approach and tower services.
The airport has a single physical runway, 12/30, measuring 11,138 feet in length with a hard surface. Both directions are lit and equipped with ILS, making it suitable for instrument approaches in the often cloud-affected conditions typical of this elevated site.
Approach is available on 124.8 MHz and 128.85 MHz (secondary), with ATIS broadcast on 118.575 MHz. Ground movements are handled on 121.7 MHz and Tower on 118.7 MHz, with a secondary military tower frequency of 257.8 MHz. An emergency frequency of 243 MHz is also listed. The airport's ILS serves both runway directions, 12 and 30.
The airfield originated as Los Rodeos, with the Island Council debating its siting for some years before it was established in the north of Tenerife; in 1930 there was a formal request to the government to declare Los Rodeos a national airport, with the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife proposed as a provisional airport during the necessary works. The airport is most widely remembered in aviation history for the 1977 disaster that occurred there, an event that remains a significant reference point in discussions of airport safety. Access road works between the airport and Santa Cruz de Tenerife were later classified as urgent to resolve longstanding problems of getting to the field.
Tenerife North continues to operate as one of Aena's network airports, handling a total of eleven airlines and serving as the smaller of Tenerife's two international airports. It functions as a full commercial airport with the facilities expected of such a field, including ILS-equipped approaches to its single runway. Pilots planning a visit should expect the operational environment of a busy Aena-managed international airport rather than a general aviation strip.
