The Spanish airport where aircraft rest for extended periods.

In the remote plains of eastern Spain, perched 1,000 meters above sea level, travelers on the Mudejar Highway encounter a strange and striking sight as they head inland from the Mediterranean coast.

Rows upon rows of massive jumbo jets stand against the horizon. This isn't an optical illusion but the view of Europe's largest industrial airport.

It’s not a scrapyard.

Nestled outside the small town of Teruel, Spain's tiniest provincial capital, this is far from a typical airport or a tourist destination. There are no check-in counters, departure lounges, baggage claims, cafes, or taxis.

The reason? There are no commercial flights operating here – and there never have been.

This airport was designed for a different purpose. It serves as a resting place for aircraft from across the globe that have been retired, either temporarily or permanently, and provides the necessary maintenance services.

However, it’s not an airplane graveyard.

While some older aircraft may be dismantled here (after being stripped for useful parts and spares), many newer, fully functional planes are also stored in Teruel.

Some of these planes are ready to fly, just waiting for financial or legal issues to be resolved, while others are parked here as airlines temporarily adjust their fleets to match market demand.

Additional Activities

Teruel is much more than just a plane storage site.

According to Director Alejandro Ibrahim, it also hosts a variety of aviation-related ventures, including those in rapidly expanding sectors.

Since its opening, the airport has already hosted companies testing rocket engines, Ibrahim shares. “We’ve been involved in drone research and are soon launching a pilot training center.”

Such specialized storage facilities are rare across the globe.

One example is the Mojave Air and Space Port in California's desert, where the dry conditions provide the perfect setting for aircraft storage.

Another facility near Pau in southern France has run out of room, prompting its operator, Tarmac Aerosave, to seek new sites—Teruel being a prime option.

Such a facility requires vast open space, and Teruel has plenty of that.

The airport is situated in a remote part of Spain, so sparsely populated that locals launched a campaign with the slogan “Teruel existe” (“Teruel exists”) to draw attention to the area.

When it comes to storing aircraft, however, it’s an ideal location.

With its dry continental climate and central location—positioned between Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia—Teruel is perfectly situated for aircraft storage.

Russian Ties

The rapid expansion of the global airline fleet, fueled by two decades of industry deregulation, has significantly increased demand for aircraft storage.

Juan Manuel Gallego, engineer and CEO of aviation consultancy ICARUM, explains that unexpected dips in aircraft demand often require operations like Teruel to step in.

“The ever-changing nature of the airline industry means a large number of aircraft need storage at any given time, either due to aging or because airlines are always looking for ways to improve efficiency by renewing and optimizing their fleets,” he says.

Additionally, Gallego explains, non-passenger-related activities are being displaced from major airports due to limited space, as passenger services are typically more profitable.

An unexpected factor that has significantly contributed to the rapid growth and success of the Spanish airport is the Russian economic crisis.

Almost at full capacity

Transaero and UTAir, the second- and fourth-largest airlines in Russia, suffered tremendously in 2015. UTAir cut most of its fleet, while Transaero ceased operations entirely.

This crisis led to an influx of Russian aircraft, including some that are nearly brand new, bringing the airport to near full capacity.

Plans are already underway for further expansion of the airport, which will enable it to store over 200 airliners at once.

A photographer’s dream

For some aviation fans, it may be a bit sorrowful to see nearly a hundred planes, including several majestic Boeing 747s, sitting idle, silently waiting for their future.

Others, however, may find joy in the rare chance to spot planes up close and capture this unusual scene with their cameras.

We chose the latter option.

Aeropuerto de Teruel, Poligono de Tiro, 4, 44396 Teruel, Aragon, Spain. Contact: +34 978 617 742