Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Sunday in three of Spain’s holiday hotspots to oppose plans for respective airport expansions, over fears it could worsen problems with overtourism, housing and climate change.
On Sunday September 20th, some 5,000 people took part in a march in the Catalan capital to protest the expansion of the city’s El Prat airport.
That same day, protesters in Palma de Mallorca and in neighbouring Ibiza also took to the streets to voice their opposition to plans for larger airports on their islands.
This comes after the national government announced larger investments into the country’s airports, paving the way for these expansions.
On September 15th, the Spanish Cabinet approved the third Airport Regulation Document. This includes €13 billion in investment for airports managed by Aena, €1.7 billion of which is earmarked for Barcelona-El Prat.
READ MORE: Spain’s airports to get €13 billion revamp as tourism booms
Aena’s goal for El Prat is for it to be able to welcome 80 million passengers per year, a third more to its current capacity of 55 million.
The march against the expansion was held under the slogan “No expansion – not now, not ever.”
People march during a demonstration against the expansion of El Prat airport in Barcelona. Photo: Manaure QUINTERO / AFP
It was backed by more than 210 organisations and collectives, as well as some 130 academics.
Many believe it will only exacerbate some of Catalonia’s major problems, from overtourism to the housing crisis and the climate emergency.
There have also long been fears that increasing the size of El Prat will have a huge impact on the Llobregat Delta next to the airport, particular local birdlife.
READ ALSO: Mallorca locals fight mass tourism with communal dinners in squares
In Ibiza, the regional government plans to allocate €229 million to the Codolar Airport, with which it intends to create an exclusive area for non-Schengen boarding for British and American tourists among other non-EU holidaymakers, as well as double the number of boarding gates, from 17 to 32.
Around 5,000 people, according to government figures, attended one of the largest demonstrations in recent history in Ibiza.
“We firmly believe that Aena does not want to improve the existing infrastructure, which is essential for the mobility of residents, but rather to expand it to encourage overcrowding and an increase in visitors…. In short, they want to turn the airport into a cash register from which only a few will profit ,” the Association of Young People of Ibiza stated.
“It represents an excessive and unsustainable growth in tourist carrying capacity,” they added.
READ ALSO: How Spain’s Balearics plan to curb overtourism with flight limits
In Mallorca, an investment of €621.6 million has been allocated for Son Sant Joan Airport and the Son Bonet area.
This aims to increase passenger capacity by almost 1.4 million passengers per year between 2027 and 2031, from 34.27 million to 35.67 million.
The march in Palma organised by the Platform Against the Expansion of Palma Airport was attended by hundreds of people, according to initial estimates from security forces, and 3,000 according to organisers. It was held under the slogan “No more expansion, no more promotion”.
Protest spokesperson Pere Joan Femenia criticised the fact that despite the messages of tourism restraint from the Balearic Government and the Council of Mallorca, visitor numbers and airport activity continue to rise.
He pointed out that the operational limit of 66 flights per hour at Son Sant Joan Airport “has been exceeded several times this summer”.
Protesters are demanding a reduction in the number of flights, limits to private aviation, and a new airport co-management law that would allow the Balearic Islands to participate in decisions about their infrastructure.
The group has also called for an end to night flights due to disturbances experienced by residents living near the airport.
