The Spanish government approves allocating 191 million to the first procedures to expand El Prat

MadridThe money to expand El Prat airport was left out of the Second Airport Regulation Document (DORA II) for the 2021-2026 period because the project derailed due to a lack of consensus between the Generalitat and the State. Five years later, the scenario is different: with the project back on the table, DORA III (2027-2031) includes a budget line to make this expansion possible, although it is not the most significant one. In fact, the money that will be allocated during this period (191.9 million euros) will be used for "preparatory actions". That is to say, for the initial procedures, but not for the expansion works, as explained by the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, in a press conference this Tuesday. These actions include drafting the project and environmental compensations in case the expansion goes ahead.

These nearly 200 million euros will be part of the investment that will be allocated to El Prat over the next five years: 1.765 billion euros. The figure is included in the plan that gathers the regulated investments for state airports for the 2027-2031 period (this is the calendar that encompasses DORA III). In total, there are 9.991 billion euros of regulated investment. This investment is linked to aeronautical activity and, specifically, to the so-called airport taxes. Finally, the Spanish government will keep them almost frozen and they will increase by 0.33% per year, far from Aena's proposal (3.8%), which as the airport manager must execute the investment. In fact, the new taxes caused a clash with the airlines, which demanded a 4.9% reduction. ALA, the sector's employers' association, has welcomed the fact that the government has softened the increase.

To the 9.991 billion, about 3 billion euros of non-regulated investment (usually linked to commercial activity) will be added. In total: 13 billion euros of investment in airports between 2027 and 2031.

1.765 billion for El Prat

The 1.765 billion euros earmarked for the Catalan airport will mainly be used to reconfigure terminals T1 and T2, improve T2 and its parking facilities, and work on the airfield and apron: interventions on runway 06R/24L, a rapid exit taxiway for runway 02/20, and "runway extension and satellite associated with the new operations," as detailed by the ministry. Aena insists that this last reference to the extension is for matters such as drafting the project, but not for the actual construction work to extend the runway or the satellite terminal. For Salvador Illa's government, the allocation demonstrates the "firm commitment" of Pedro Sánchez's executive to the expansion, in the words of minister Sílvia Paneque. The Generalitat asserts that it is a "necessary" project.

The start of the works, in case the project goes ahead, is expected for 2029. It is, however, the "optimistic" schedule that Aena is working with, as confessed by its president, Maurici Lucena. For the moment, the machinery has been set in motion to advance the drafting of the master plan, which sets the foundations of the infrastructure, and the environmental assessment of the project, which will need the approval of Brussels.

Pressure from the business community and clash with Sumar

In contrast, institutions such as the Chamber, which in recent years has pressured for the expansion to be carried out, are demanding that Aena and the Spanish government accelerate investment so that the works can begin to be executed sooner.

In the opposite direction, Sumar, the minority partner within the Spanish executive, has spoken out, rejecting not only the expansion of El Prat, but also the DORA III as a whole. "It consolidates an airport growth model based on more emissions and more tourist pressure," party sources denounce.

The total investment for Catalonia will be 1.963 billion euros. This means that 89.9% will go to El Prat and the rest to the airports managed by the State: Girona-Costa Brava, Reus and Sabadell.

Other airports

The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, defended this Tuesday the need to adapt Spanish airports to future demand, specifically due to the impact of international tourism. "We must transform and prepare the Spanish airport system to respond to future demand, taking into account that the network [of airports in the State] is expected to exceed 358 million passengers by 2031," said Puente in a press conference. The air traffic growth forecast is more optimistic than Aena's (347 million by 2031), but less than that of the companies (401 million).

It is this tourism pressure that explains the allocations that will be destined for airports in territories such as the Balearic Islands (1 billion), the Canary Islands (1.807 billion for the entire archipelago) or even Madrid-Barajas, the best-off, with a total of 4.477 billion euros. An expansion is also planned in the Spanish capital. 1.27 billion will be allocated to the Valencian Community. In fact, the bulk of the investment relies on the arrival of travelers.

Infrastructure management

In parallel with DORA III, the Spanish airport manager is also affected by the debate over airport management. It is not only Catalonia that claims to have a role in the control of these infrastructures, but more recently the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands as well. Aena has always said that airport management is "exclusively" its own, and has only opened up to deepening "coordination" with the territories. How? Through agreements like the one reached by the central and Basque governments regarding airports in the Basque Country last March.