La Palma Airport (GCLA)
Medium airport · Sta Cruz de la Palma, La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain
Airport data
| Name | La Palma Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | GCLA |
| IATA | SPC |
| Elevation | 107 ft (33 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 28°37'35" W 17°45'20" 28.62650, -17.75560 |
| Location | Sta Cruz de la Palma, La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36/18 | 7,218 ft (2200 m) | 148 ft | ASP | Yes |
La Palma Airport at a glance
La Palma Airport is a medium airport in Sta Cruz de la Palma, La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain, known to airline systems as SPC. The field elevation of 107 ft (33 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at GCLA are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 36/18, offers 7,218 ft (2200 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 36 points roughly 360° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for GCLA shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to La Palma Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| La Gomera Airport | GCGM | 85 km (46 NM) |
| El Hierro Airport | GCHI | 91 km (49 NM) |
| Tenerife Sur Airport | GCTS | 133 km (72 NM) |
| Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport | GCXO | 139 km (75 NM) |
| El Berriel Aeroc Airport | GCLB | 239 km (129 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for La Palma Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 107 ft field elevation of La Palma Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 548 airports and airfields we list for Spain — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about La Palma Airport
What is the ICAO code of La Palma Airport?
The ICAO identifier of La Palma Airport is GCLA, and its IATA code is SPC. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is La Palma Airport above sea level?
La Palma Airport sits at an elevation of 107 feet (33 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is La Palma Airport located?
The airport lies at 28.6265, -17.7556 — in Sta Cruz de la Palma, La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is La Gomera Airport, about 85 km away.
Does GCLA publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for GCLA appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at La Palma Airport?
La Palma Airport has one runway. The longest, 36/18, measures 7,218 ft (2200 m) with a ASP surface.