Aena continues taking steps so that the expansion of Barcelona airport begins in 2029
The first actions will serve to apply the environmental compensations of a project that will affect protected areas
BarcelonaAena, the public company that manages airports in Spain, is advancing in the works to begin the expansion of El Prat airport in 2029. For now, it has awarded the drafting of the master plan, which sets the foundations for the infrastructure, and the environmental assessment of the project.
The public company plans to approve the final text in 2029 and, subsequently, start the works. Aena's president, Maurici Lucena, has already made it clear that this schedule is "difficult", although he is "optimistic" this schedule is "difficult", although he is "optimistic".
The master plan aims to "guarantee orderly, safe and flexible growth, capable of absorbing the projected traffic increases", according to an Aena statement this Tuesday. In 2025, El Prat broke the "record for passengers, a total of 57.5 million", exceeding the infrastructure's theoretical maximum capacity of 55 million. It is the second consecutive year it has surpassed this threshold.
The current master plan dates from 1999, and Aena sources have confirmed to ARA that the new text will become part of the Third Airport Regulation Document (DORA III), which establishes the investments Aena will make at each airport for the period 2027-2031. By 2031, El Prat is allocated 1,765.2 million euros, out of a total planned investment for the entire renovation of 3.2 billion over the next ten years.
Aena's president and CEO, Maurici Lucena, explained at a press conference at the end of February that the expansion will include the construction of a new satellite terminal, the connection with terminal T1, the extension of the runway on the sea side, and environmental compensation. In fact, Aena plans to start the works for the latter. If nothing is delayed, the construction of the new terminal and the runway extension will not happen until 2033.
According to La Vanguardia, Mott MacDonald Spain and IDOM Consultoria will be responsible for drafting the project, and they will receive 2.68 million euros.
Approval from administrations
After the withdrawal of the expansion project under the government of Pere Aragonès, and following proposals from various economic and social actors in the country, the Generalitat led by Salvador Illa presented at the beginning of last summer what future it wants for Barcelona airport.
While acknowledging that it will alter one of the arms of the protected area of La Ricarda, the socialist executive argued that it will have less impact. The Catalan government is in favor of extending the third runway, from which planes take off, which is also the shortest and closest to the sea. It will be extended by 500 paved meters in the direction of La Ricarda, and the remaining part will be made of vegetation.