In an interview with La Vanguardia, Aena’s strategy chief confirmed that Barcelona-El Prat’s controversial third runway and terminal upgrade—part of the newly approved DORA III investment plan—should be fully operational by 2038. The government last week authorised record airport spending of €13 billion for 2027-31, almost six times the current quinquennial budget. At El Prat alone, €1.8 billion will be spent during that period, with further outlays scheduled through 2037. For corporate travel managers, the timeline provides clarity on when additional slot capacity may come online, potentially relieving congestion that has triggered repeated slot co-ordination penalties for late-filing carriers. However, construction phases will also mean intermittent night-time closures of runway 07L-25R from 2028 onwards. Companies planning meetings and incentives in Barcelona should therefore factor possible schedule changes and noise-abatement-related curfews into travel policies, while global-mobility teams may welcome the longer-term prospect of more direct intercontinental connections from the Catalan hub.
Source: La Vanguardia
