Catalonia has given approval for airport operator Aena to hold out a 3.2 billion euro (USD 3.65 billion) enlargement of the Barcelona-El Prat airport, Salvador Illa, the area’s president, instructed reporters on Tuesday.
The deal, between Spain’s Transport Ministry, Catalonia’s authorities and Aena, consists of the extension of a 3rd runway and the development of a satellite tv for pc terminal, in addition to a remodelling of Terminals 1 and a pair of and the parking space, he stated.
As well as, virtually 300 hectares of the neighbouring Llobregat agricultue fields park will probably be turned again into wetlands to compensate for the development works’ projected environmental influence.
The deliberate enlargement, which has beeen mentioned for years, is criticised by environmentalists, activist teams opposing overtourism and hard-left events.
Aena and airways have stated that the enlargement will enable extra direct flights from america and Asia – coveted markets for the native tourism trade.
Aina Vidal, a member of parliament who belongs to the federal government’s junior coalition companion Sumar, stated on Tuesday that Barcelona was already overflowing with vacationers and lacked the capability to welcome extra.
“Extra airplanes imply extra air pollution for a metropolis that’s already at its restrict,” Vidal instructed a information convention.
The brand new satellite tv for pc terminal is ready to extend the airport’s capability to 70 million annual passengers from the present 55 million, in line with Aena. Spain final yr acquired a report 94 million vacationers, making it the world’s second-most well-liked vacation spot after France.
