Roughly 5,500 demonstrators took to Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia on 20 September to denounce the proposed expansion of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport. Environmental platform Zeroport—backed by ERC, Barcelona en Comú and the CUP—argues that lengthening the third runway will worsen housing shortages, carbon emissions and tourism saturation. The protest comes days after Spain’s Council of Ministers approved AENA’s third Airport Regulation Document (DORA III) for 2027-2031, allocating €1.76 billion to El Prat. Although DORA III does not yet green-light a runway extension, it earmarks preparatory works, fuelling speculation that the project will resurface after next year’s Catalan elections. Speakers demanded instead a high-speed-rail link between Barcelona and Girona airport, arguing that under-used regional facilities could absorb future passenger growth. Local mayors warned that added flights would inflate rents in surrounding municipalities already struggling with overtourism. For corporate travel managers, uncertainty over El Prat’s capacity planning could affect hub-selection strategies for Iberian meetings and incentives business. If expansion is delayed, airlines may face slot constraints from 2028 onward, pushing up fares at Spain’s second-busiest airport and nudging carriers toward Madrid or Valencia. Expatriate families eyeing relocation to Catalonia should monitor noise-abatement zoning changes that could influence housing options.
Source: El País
