The future of Barcelona-El Prat Airport remains one of the thorniest issues in Catalan politics, particularly due to the environmental impact that extending the runway into the La Ricarda protected area would entail. However, Aena has decided not to wait for the institutional and environmental conflict to be resolved before taking action. The airport operator has announced an investment of more than 110 million euros for a series of structural renovations that will begin this year and continue through 2028.
These works do not technically entail an expansion of the airport’s capacity, as the number of flights per hour will remain the same, but they do involve a major overhaul of the current infrastructure. The airport management’s stated intention is to reduce aircraft taxiing times and, by extension, ground emissions, although the underlying goal remains to lay the groundwork for potential future growth should the European Union ultimately approve the expansion plans.
Sixty-day closure of the runway by the sea
The most technically ambitious project is the resurfacing of runway 06R-24L, the one closest to the coast. After 21 years of intensive use, aviation regulations require a complete resurfacing for safety reasons. This work will require the closure of that runway for a period of 50 to 60 days, likely during the winter months of 2027 or 2028 to minimize the impact on the high season.
This temporary closure will force airlines to reduce their flight offerings and reorganize the airport’s entire operations. According to technical details provided by Aena, the project also includes the construction of new rapid exit lanes and the remodeling of the holding areas. The strategy is that, should the controversial 500-meter extension of this runway ultimately be approved, two-thirds of the runway will already have been modernized.
A facelift for Terminal 2 and the night runway
Beyond the main runways, Terminal 2 is also included in the renovation plans with a €65.2 million tender. Although T1 handles the bulk of international traffic, T2 remains a key hub for low-cost carriers and requires an upgrade of its facilities that has been postponed for years.
On the other hand, 3.1 million euros will be allocated to improving the cross-runway, which is typically used during nighttime hours (from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM) to reduce noise impact on neighboring communities. A new rapid exit will be built here to prevent aircraft from having to travel excessively long distances across the apron to reach their parking positions.
While these works proceed, the actual expansion project—the one that directly affects the La Ricarda lagoon—remains in the public consultation phase, awaiting the Environmental Impact Statement. Aena is accelerating maintenance of what it already has, but the fundamental debate over whether the city’s model should involve an even larger airport is far from settled.
