Flights to Lanzarote: ACE airport, airlines and flight time

Lanzarote is served by Lanzarote-César Manrique Airport (code ACE), around 5km from Arrecife, reachable on direct flights from numerous UK, German and French cities, with an average flight time of 4 to 4.5 hours from Europe.

Lanzarote Airport (ACE)

All arrivals go through the same place: Lanzarote-César Manrique Airport (ACE) sits just 5km from Arrecife, the island's capital. Named after the island's most iconic artist, it handles all international and inter-island traffic.

The airport has two terminals linked by a free shuttle: T1 for national and international flights, and the smaller T2, reserved for inter-island routes. On arrival, baggage reclaim is generally quick at this mid-sized airport, and the arrivals hall keeps car hire desks, taxis and bus stops all on the same level.

This central location is a real advantage: Puerto del Carmen is about ten minutes' drive away, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise around thirty. Taxi, shuttle or hire car will get you to any resort town quickly — though the most practical option for exploring the island remains hiring a car at ACE airport on arrival.

Which airlines fly to Lanzarote?

Several low-cost and full-service airlines operate direct routes to Lanzarote from the UK, Germany, France and the rest of Europe, supplemented by inter-island connections from the other Canary Islands. The list of airlines and routes for the season is available on the airport's official site (AENA) and on comparison sites — check your departure airport when booking.

The schedule changes with the season: since the Canaries are a "winter sun" destination, some seasonal routes are added to the programme from October to March. Check which days flights run from your nearest airport, particularly outside the major hubs.

To combine several islands, local carriers such as Binter Canarias and Canaryfly run short, daily inter-island flights from terminal 2. Another option from Fuerteventura: the ferry between Corralejo and Playa Blanca, a crossing of around 30 minutes.

How long is the flight to Lanzarote?

Allow around 4 hours for a direct flight from the UK and 4.5 hours from Germany, depending on your departure city. Lanzarote is closer than you might think: the island sits just off the Moroccan coast, with no significant time difference for UK travellers, and only an hour's difference from mainland Germany.

From regions without a direct route, a connecting flight — often via Madrid or another Canary Island — remains the solution, with a total journey time of 6 to 8 hours depending on the connection.

When to book for the best price?

The golden rule hasn't changed: booking several months in advance usually gets you the best fares. Prices climb sharply during school holidays (February half-term, Easter, summer, Christmas), when Lanzarote fills up with European visitors.

Watch out for the "all-in" price too: on low-cost airlines, the headline fare often only covers a small cabin bag. Add the cost of hold luggage and seat selection before comparing — the final gap can flip the ranking between two airlines.

Finally, keep an eye on change and cancellation terms: on a highly seasonal destination like Lanzarote, a slightly pricier but flexible ticket can end up cheaper than a locked-in fare, especially if your dates depend on accommodation availability.

Also worth noting: the Canaries' high season runs opposite to the Mediterranean's. Winter (November to March) is when European demand for sun peaks, and flight prices follow suit. Travelling in May, June or October combines gentler fares with weather that's already excellent.

Once your ticket is booked, the next step is choosing where to stay in Lanzarote: the best places get booked up fast for the same periods as flights.

This page complements our Lanzarote travel info; see also our Lanzarote guide and the Canary Islands guide.