Aena has earmarked €1.032 billion to kick-start Barcelona-El Prat’s long-stalled expansion between 2027 and 2031, according to a strategy unveiled on 25 February.(cincodias.elpais.com) The money—about a third of the project’s €3.2 billion total—will refurbish Terminal 1, overhaul ageing Terminal 2 and fund environmental offsets required to build in nearby Natura 2000 wetlands.
Later phases, pending a new master plan in 2028-29, will extend the sea-side runway, construct a satellite terminal and lift capacity from 57 million to 80 million passengers a year. The scheme finally unblocks a political impasse with the Catalan government that delayed the project two years and risked pushing traffic to rival hubs.(cincodias.elpais.com)
For multinational firms, the upgrade promises more long-haul slots and less congestion at Spain’s second-busiest airport, improving connections to Latin-America and the Asia-Pacific Rim—two regions critical to Barcelona’s tech and pharma clusters. Business-travel budgets could shrink as airlines add competition on premium routes.
![Barcelona-El Prat Secures €1 Billion for First Phase of Long-Awaited Expansion]()
International passengers and business travellers mapping future trips through Barcelona will also need to navigate visa requirements for Spain and onward destinations; VisaHQ’s online platform streamlines this process, offering up-to-date guidance and application support for Schengen and other visas (see https://www.visahq.com/spain/).
Aena plans to spend an additional €745 million on sustainability and safety projects, including photovoltaic farms and runway-surface upgrades, aligning with EU taxonomy rules. The investment is folded into DORA III, the regulator-approved tariff framework; passenger charges are expected to stay broadly flat, easing airline concerns.
Project managers should anticipate rolling works inside Terminals 1 and 2 from 2027; contingency time for flight delays and gate changes will be prudent. Nonetheless, the expansion locks in Barcelona as a future super-hub, boosting Spain’s attractiveness for regional headquarters and international conferences.
Later phases, pending a new master plan in 2028-29, will extend the sea-side runway, construct a satellite terminal and lift capacity from 57 million to 80 million passengers a year. The scheme finally unblocks a political impasse with the Catalan government that delayed the project two years and risked pushing traffic to rival hubs.(cincodias.elpais.com)
For multinational firms, the upgrade promises more long-haul slots and less congestion at Spain’s second-busiest airport, improving connections to Latin-America and the Asia-Pacific Rim—two regions critical to Barcelona’s tech and pharma clusters. Business-travel budgets could shrink as airlines add competition on premium routes.
International passengers and business travellers mapping future trips through Barcelona will also need to navigate visa requirements for Spain and onward destinations; VisaHQ’s online platform streamlines this process, offering up-to-date guidance and application support for Schengen and other visas (see https://www.visahq.com/spain/).
Aena plans to spend an additional €745 million on sustainability and safety projects, including photovoltaic farms and runway-surface upgrades, aligning with EU taxonomy rules. The investment is folded into DORA III, the regulator-approved tariff framework; passenger charges are expected to stay broadly flat, easing airline concerns.
Project managers should anticipate rolling works inside Terminals 1 and 2 from 2027; contingency time for flight delays and gate changes will be prudent. Nonetheless, the expansion locks in Barcelona as a future super-hub, boosting Spain’s attractiveness for regional headquarters and international conferences.
