Passenger Terminal

Four gate modules, one long Passenger Terminal

PMI’s Passenger Terminal is a single building that splits into four gate modules labeled A, B, C, and D, with a total of just 4 gate clusters rather than fully separate terminals. Air Europa, Ryanair, easyJet, and Iberia all operate out of this same structure, so you walk airside between modules instead of transferring between buildings. Distances can stretch to 10–15 minutes on foot, especially to the far end of A or D, so build a buffer if your boarding pass shows a distant module.

Schengen vs non-Schengen: how the modules are used

In peak summer, non-Schengen and most UK flights usually leave from Module A, while B, C, and D handle Schengen services and seasonal overflow for airlines like Ryanair and easyJet. Off-season, Module A can close and non-Schengen flights often move to Module C instead, which catches out people who rely on old gate memories. Check the departure screens after security near the main hall rather than assuming your UK or non-Schengen flight always uses A.

Main departures hall and security rhythm

The central departures level feeds all four modules from one main security zone, so every passenger for Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, and easyJet queues in the same lines. Reviews on AirlineQuality mention this hall feeling “extremely busy” with little sense of organization, especially during the morning wave around 7:00–9:00. In high season it is normal to wait 20–30 minutes or more for security, so aim to be at the airport at least two hours before a short-haul departure.

Food, shops, and the odd opening pattern

Once you clear security you hit the central commercial strip, where one constant is Foods & Goods, a grab-and-go style stop for snacks and drinks. Several passengers have complained that some shops close without warning in the evening, even while people still wait near the gates. Prices sit in the usual Spanish holiday-airport range, with basic sandwiches and soft drinks often north of €5 combined, so stock up before peak mealtimes to avoid slim pickings.

VIP Sala lounges and the hard-to-spot one

There are two Aena VIP Sala lounges used by oneworld and other carriers, even though the terminal is marketed as a single “Passenger Terminal.” FlyerTalk regulars note a main lounge near security and a second lounge closer to the non-Schengen gates after passport control. One newer VIP Sala sits just before the entrance to Module A and is accessed only via an elevator down from the main departures level, which many people miss because there is very little signage.

Which lounge to pick (if you have access)

A BA-focused thread calls the generic VIP Sala near security “pretty basic,” with a service model where you line up for everything and staff bring items to your table, slowing things down when several flights depart at once. Another review describes the small lounge inside Module A as so cramped that “there are no space between chairs,” especially on busy UK departure banks. Regulars flying Iberia or BA often prefer the post-passport-control lounge closer to the gates so they do not risk a long border queue right before boarding.

Overnight stays and early-morning waves

SleepingInAirports reports confirm that staying airside by the gates overnight is tolerated, with cleaning teams passing through occasionally and security not pushing people landside. Noise levels stay relatively low after midnight, then spike sharply around 5:00 as early flights prepare and shops begin opening. If you have a dawn Ryanair or easyJet departure, you can expect boarding calls and PA announcements to ramp up from about an hour beforehand.

Border control for non-Schengen flights

For UK and other non-Schengen departures, you pass through passport control after the main shopping zone on the way to Modules A or C, depending on season. FlyerTalk users warn that this checkpoint “can take some time,” with queues building fast in July and August when Air Europa and other carriers stack departures close together. BA regulars often clear passport control immediately after security, then head to the gate-side VIP Sala to avoid queue stress later.

What regulars do and one final tip

Seasoned PMI flyers track module usage by month, assuming non-Schengen flights use Module A in summer and checking for Module C assignments in winter when A may be closed. Some oneworld passengers deliberately skip the tiny lounge inside A and instead use the newer VIP Sala via the elevator before A, then walk to the gate about 30 minutes before boarding. One practical tip: give yourself at least 15 minutes of walking time from the central hall to the far end of any module, especially D, before the time printed on your boarding pass.