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Mallorca airport joins €1bn Balearics investment plan

Responsible for this content: Frank Menze

Palma de Mallorca Airport is set to share in more than €1 billion for the Balearic airports between 2027 and 2031. Spain’s Council of Ministers approved the spending plan on Tuesday, 15 September. Ibiza, Menorca and Son Bonet are also included.

(I-D) La ministra de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Diana Morant; el ministro de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible, Óscar Puente, y la ministra de Inclusión; Seguridad Social y Migraciones y portavoz del Gobierno, Elma Saiz, durante la rueda de pre
Europa Press

The plan, known as DORA III, is Aena’s five-year rulebook for investment and airport charges across Spain. It earmarks nearly €13,000 million for the national network, while the average airport charge is due to rise by 0.33% a year — about three cents per passenger each year, according to Transport Minister Óscar Puente.

The government has not said how the Balearic Islands’ €1 billion-plus allocation will be divided between the four airports. It also says no runway expansions beyond the existing master plans are planned.

New passport-control areas

The Balearic airports are due to gain new passport-control areas adapted to the Entry/Exit System, the European system for recording entries and exits. The work is intended to meet Schengen Area requirements.

Across Spain, the plan expects passenger numbers to rise from 321 million in 2025 to 358 million in 2031. Aena will fund the investments from the airports’ own resources, rather than the state budget.

Charges stay close to flat

Aena had sought annual charge rises of 3.82%. The National Commission for Markets and Competition had instead recommended a 0.59% annual cut, while airlines called for a reduction of 4.9%.

The approved 0.33% yearly increase means charges will remain close to frozen over the five-year period despite the expected rise in passenger traffic.

More on this topic: Traffic on Mallorca

Topics: Tourism · Traffic · Politics · Economy · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com