Spain’s Aena Granted Approval for €3.2 Billion Expansion of Barcelona-El Prat Airport

The Catalan government has approved the €3.2 billion expansion of Barcelona-El Prat Airport, operated by Spain’s Aena, it was announced on Tuesday by the region’s socialist president, Salvador Illa.

The agreement, involving Spain’s Transport Ministry, the Catalan government, and Aena, will see the extension of a runway, construction of a satellite terminal, and upgrades to Terminals 1 and 2, as well as improvements to the parking facilities.

The project aims to enhance the airport’s role as an international hub while safeguarding the surrounding environment.

Key features include a 500-metre extension of the sea-facing runway, increasing its total length to 3,160 metres. This extension will allow for larger intercontinental aircraft to operate without restrictions and is expected to minimise noise pollution in nearby residential areas.

Environmental initiatives accompany the expansion, including the restoration of over 270 hectares of natural habitats in the Llobregat Delta, 10 times the area impacted, as well as the creation of a green belt to balance agricultural and ecological interests. An environmental fund will also be established to further protect the ecosystem.

Aena and airlines argue that the expansion will enable more direct flights to the United States and Asia, key markets for the region’s tourism industry.

However, the plans, which have been under discussion for several years, face criticism from environmentalists, opposition groups concerned about overtourism, and some left-wing parties.

Aina Vidal, a member of parliament who belongs to the government’s junior coalition partner Sumar, said on Tuesday that Barcelona was already overflowing with tourists and lacked the capacity to welcome more.

"More airplanes mean more pollution for a city that is already at its limit," Vidal told a news conference.

The new satellite terminal is expected to boost the airport’s capacity to 70 million passengers annually. 

In 2024, Barcelona-El Prat handled 55 million passengers, marking a 4.5 per cent increase on 2019 and the end of the post-pandemic recovery. This total already pushes the airport towards its maximum capacity, emphasising the importance of the expansion for reaching its ambition of becoming a key long-haul hub for Spain. By summer 2025, the airport’s network of destinations outside Europe already covers 55 cities.