Barcelona-El Prat Airport Expansion Approved Amid Record Passenger Growth
The Technical Commission of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and the Government of Catalonia has approved the expansion project of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, promoted by Aena.
According to the organization, the plan aims to reconcile the airport's development as an intercontinental hub with the preservation of the natural environment, particularly the La Ricarda lagoon.
The project will be included in the investment proposal for the next regulatory period, DORA 3 (2027–2031), and involves a total investment of 3.2 billion euros, combining already planned actions with those recently agreed upon. The master plan is expected to be approved by 2028, with construction starting in 2030 and completion projected for 2033.
Among the key works is the extension of the sea-facing runway (24L-06R), which will enable the infrastructure to accommodate intercontinental aircraft without restrictions. The extension will be 500 meters, bringing the total runway length to 3,160 meters. According to Aena, this will also help reduce noise impact on nearby residential areas.
The increased operational capacity will require the construction of a new satellite terminal, in addition to the renovation of Terminals 1 and 2 and improvements to the parking facilities and existing runway.
In 2024, Barcelona-El Prat Airport handled 55.03 million passengers, marking the end of the post-pandemic recovery with a 4.5% increase over 2019. This figure brings the airport's capacity to its limit, making the expansion crucial to support its ambitions of becoming a long-haul alternative hub for Spain.
By the summer of 2025, Barcelona's network of destinations outside Europe already reaches 55 cities.
Aena states that the final design reduces the impact on La Ricarda's natural area by 87 meters compared to the initial proposal. The projected runway ends before the main channel connecting the lagoon to the sea, thereby preserving the water body.
The project includes complementary environmental measures, such as the restoration of more than 270 hectares of natural spaces in the Llobregat Delta — ten times the area affected — the creation of a green belt to balance agricultural and environmental uses, and a specific environmental fund to strengthen the protection of this ecosystem.
These initiatives add to those Aena is already implementing in the area, such as forest management, control of invasive species, installation of nesting boxes, maintenance of drainage channels, and water resource management to prevent saltwater intrusion.
AUTOR
Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline. Base: ROS Origen: RES
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