the reopening, while commercial passenger flights are not expected in the near future. In May 2020, cargo flights returned to the airport, as part of a Guangzhou–Ciudad Real cargo corridor to bring medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic and the passenger airline based at the airport, Galistair, arrived, but left later that year to Granada. That same month, the first airplanes parking at the facilities due to that pandemic arrived for storage. By August 2020 it was already hosting around 60 airplanes, from Vueling, Iberia, South African, Aer Lingus or Virgin Atlantic, and was planning to expand to host around 200 by the end of the year. Even if the expansion did not take place, the airport hosted around 80 airplanes at the peak of the pandemic, becoming one of the preferred locations in Europe for temporary storage. However, by July 2021 half of the aircraft were put back into operation by their respective airlines, and the airport closed its doors temporarily as it had defaulted on its payments to several suppliers. Media Before opening and after closure, the airport has been used in a number media ventures: In 2012, Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar used the airport to film a number of portions for his film I'm So Excited!. In 2013, Volvo Trucks used the disused runway to film the "Epic Split" commercial. The scene features actor Jean-Claude Van Damme narrating and performing the splits between two moving trucks driving in reverse. Planning for the stunt involved the use of professionals to drive the trucks, with filming done within one take and directed by Andreas Nilsson. On 14 July 2013, Top Gear aired a special feature film for the third episode of its 20th series, filmed earlier that year, in which presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond visited the disused airport during a "budget" supercar challenge in Spain. The presenters took time to explore the empty terminal building, before racing their cars – a McLaren 12C, Audi R8 and Ferrari 458 – on the closed runway. In 2019, Canadian airline WestJet aired a commercial that was filmed in the airport. References External links Official website Official website under previous management Airports in Castilla–La Mancha Buildings and structures in the Province of Ciudad Real Transport companies of Spain Airports established in 2008 Airports disestablished in 2012 Airports established in 2019