Flights to Pico
Which airport serves Pico, and what are its codes?
Quick answer
Pico has its own airport, IATA code PIX and ICAO code LPPI, on the north coast at 34 metres above sea level. The alternative is flying into Horta on Faial and crossing by ferry, which is often the better-connected route even though it adds a boat.
The airport
Pico Airport carries the IATA code PIX and the ICAO code LPPI. It sits on the north coast at 38.5544° N, 28.4414° W, 34 metres above sea level, roughly between Madalena and São Roque do Pico.
Use PIX when you book. Several booking sites will happily sell you a connection through Ponta Delgada or Lisbon without making it obvious which Azorean island you land on, and the Azores have nine of them.
The Horta alternative
The other way in is to fly to Horta on Faial and take the ferry across to Madalena. The channel is narrow and the two towns face each other, which is why this is a normal way to reach Pico rather than a workaround. See ferries to Pico for the routes and the two Pico ports.
It is worth pricing both. A route through Horta sometimes has better frequency than a direct PIX schedule, and if you were going to visit Horta anyway it removes a flight. The trade is that you arrive by boat, so your car hire has to be arranged on the Pico side. See getting to Pico for how the two routes compare and renting a car for the part people leave too late.
What this page does not tell you
No airlines, no routes, no schedules, no fares. Who flies to PIX and from where changes by season and by year, and the operators publish it themselves. Nothing here is copied from a secondary guide and nothing is inferred from what used to be true.
Check the airline directly, and check which island you are actually landing on. If the ferry is part of your plan, read driving on Pico before assuming the island is small enough to cross casually.
One thing worth deciding before you book either route: where on the island you are staying. The airport is on the north coast and the ferry lands on the west, and the two are not interchangeable once you add a drive to the south coast at the end of a travel day.
Facts and sources
Common questions
Where on Pico is the airport?
Pico Airport is on the island's north coast, roughly between Madalena and São Roque do Pico, at 38.5544° N, 28.4414° W and 34 metres above sea level. The ferry from Horta lands at Madalena on the west coast instead, so the two ways in put you on different coasts.
Which airport code should I search for when booking a flight to Pico?
Search for PIX, the IATA code that airlines and booking sites use for Pico Airport. Flight trackers and pilots use the ICAO code, LPPI, for the same airfield. Routes to the Azores often change planes on another island, so check that the last leg of your booking actually lands at PIX.
Can I reach Pico without flying into PIX?
Yes. Many visitors fly to Horta on Faial instead and take the Atlânticoline ferry across the channel to Madalena, on Pico's west coast. It adds a boat crossing, and bad weather cancels sailings, so leave a margin between the ferry and any onward flight.