Lisbon to Madeira flight and the routes to Funchal

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A Lisbon to Madeira flight takes about 1 hour 45 minutes nonstop, with 12 to 14 flights a day: TAP flies 6 to 7, easyJet 4 and Ryanair 2 to 3, so no change of plane is needed. From much of western Europe there are nonstop flights too, of about 4 hours; from the United States there is a summer nonstop from Newark, and otherwise a connection in Lisbon or Porto.

Everything lands at one airport, Madeira Airport, code FNC, on the south-east coast, 18.6 km from central Funchal. Its runway, partly built on pillars over the sea, is exposed to the wind, which is the one thing about flying here that catches people out.

From Lisbon

The usual assumption is that the island is a long flight from mainland Portugal. It is not: Madeira lies far out in the Atlantic, but the Lisbon to madeira flight time is about 1 hour 45 minutes nonstop, around 1 hour 50 minutes on average.

Three airlines fly the route nonstop: TAP, easyJet and Ryanair. Lisbon and Porto are the two busiest routes from Funchal, with London Gatwick the third, so the choice of times through the day is wide.

That makes Lisbon the natural connection for anyone without a direct flight to madeira from home. A traveller from the United States, Canada or South America can fly into Lisbon, then take the short flight to Funchal; the same works through Porto. Travellers arriving from outside the Schengen area pass the EU's Entry/Exit System at their first Schengen airport, which on a connection through Lisbon is Lisbon, not Funchal.

Allow time for that check on the first leg. The EES has been fully operational at Schengen external borders since 10 April 2026, and it records fingerprints and a facial image at the first entry.

Routes into Funchal

The mistake is to look only at Portugal's mainland airports and miss the direct routes. Madeira has its own wide network.

A flight to madeira portugal can start from dozens of European cities. About 29 airlines fly from Funchal, with TAP, easyJet and Ryanair the most used, and the list includes British Airways, Jet2, Edelweiss, Transavia, Eurowings, Condor, Brussels Airlines, SAS and Norwegian among others. Some routes are seasonal, so check the airline's timetable for your dates.

All flights to funchal airport land at the same place, Madeira Airport, code FNC, also known by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo since 2017. It is 18.6 km from central Funchal, about 20 minutes by road, in the municipality of Santa Cruz.

For Porto Santo, the neighbouring island, the Lobo Marinho ferry from Funchal is the alternative to a connecting flight: from €33.90, about 2 hours 15 minutes, with a break for annual maintenance in January.

From Paris

Visitors from France often expect a choice of Paris airlines. On the nonstop route there is one.

The flight time paris to funchal madeira duration is about 3 hours 50 minutes nonstop from Paris Orly, flown by Transavia, the only airline on that route. Travellers from other French cities, or who prefer another airline, usually connect through Lisbon or Porto, which adds the short Portuguese leg and a change of planes.

Because Paris and Madeira are both in the Schengen area, there is no border check on arrival in Funchal on a direct flight.

Ask the airline about the seasonal pattern before planning a trip around one day: frequencies on seasonal routes change between summer and winter.

From London and the UK

People flying from the UK often plan a short-haul hop and are surprised by the length. It is closer to four hours.

The london to madeira flight time from Gatwick is 3 hours 55 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes by the schedules, with easyJet among the airlines, and Gatwick is one of the three busiest routes from Funchal. British Airways and Jet2 also fly to Madeira from the UK; check which airports and days suit you.

The UK is outside the Schengen area, so travellers from the UK, like those from the US and Canada, pass the Entry/Exit System on arrival at Madeira Airport on a direct flight. Allow for the queue at passport control on a busy day.

A UK photocard driving licence is accepted for car hire, if you plan to collect a car on arrival.

Flights from London to Madeira take between three hours fifty-five minutes and four hours ten minutes.

From Switzerland, the US, and the wind

The flight time zurich to madeira funchal is about 4 hours 5 minutes on average, nonstop with Edelweiss, the only airline on the route from Zurich.

From the United States, United flies nonstop from Newark to Funchal in summer; the 2026 season ran from 7 June to 23 September, with about 6 hours 35 to 6 hours 50 minutes to Funchal and about 7 hours 45 minutes back. Check the season on United's site before planning around it. The rest of the year, US travellers connect through Lisbon or Porto.

Whatever the route, plan for the wind. Strong wind at Madeira Airport regularly cancels and diverts flights: on 5 March 2026, seven were cancelled and five diverted. Avoid tight onward connections on the way out, and keep a spare day before an important flight home. The airport's site shows live arrivals and departures.

From the airport into the city, the Aerobus costs €6.70 on board and runs from 08:30 to 22:00, about 50 minutes to the end of its route; a taxi or a booked transfer takes about 20 minutes. The guide to getting from the airport to the city centre covers each option, and the EU's Entry/Exit System page explains the border check.

Common questions

How long is the flight from Lisbon to Madeira?

About 1 hour 45 minutes nonstop, with TAP, easyJet and Ryanair.

How long is the flight from London?

From Gatwick, 3 hours 55 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes by the schedules.

Is there a direct flight from the US?

In summer, United flies nonstop from Newark; the 2026 season ran from 7 June to 23 September. Otherwise connect in Lisbon or Porto.

Why are flights to Madeira cancelled?

Strong wind at the airport regularly cancels and diverts flights. Keep a spare day and avoid tight connections.