Catalonia is discussing a major airport management reform that could reshape the region’s approach to developing its aviation infrastructure. At the center of the initiative is the creation of a unified system for four key airports: Barcelona-El Prat, Girona-Costa Brava, Reus, and Lleida. This issue has become a priority in the political agreements between the Socialist Party of Catalonia and the Republican Left of Catalonia, which enabled Salvador Illa to take office as head of the Generalitat.
In recent months, negotiations on this matter have moved beyond the regional level and now involve the central government of Spain. Although the details of the future model have not yet been disclosed, the parties agree on the need to establish a special body—the Catalan Aviation Authority—as well as to develop rail links between all four airports. The goal is to make them more competitive and to improve coordination.
According to the political agreements, each airport will have a clearly defined role within the overall system, and future development will be based on these objectives. A key element will be the limitation of annual emissions—not to exceed current levels. This will directly impact the number of permitted operations and total passenger traffic.
In the near future, the Generalitat will begin discussions on next year’s budget, and the management of airports will be one of the key issues in negotiations with the Republicans. Under the new model, regional authorities hope to gain greater powers and become the main decision-maker in airport infrastructure development. To this end, a new Catalonia Airports Management Council is planned, replacing the existing coordination committee and the Aviation Authority of Catalonia. The latter will be responsible for implementing regional aviation policy, including urban planning, environmental issues, consumer rights, and economic development.
In recent years, discussions about expanding El Prat Airport have focused on building a new runway, but many economic and civic organizations insist on a comprehensive approach. They propose treating all four airports as a single system, as is done in London or Paris, to increase efficiency and reduce the burden on individual facilities. At the same time, it is emphasized that coordination should not interfere with the successful operation of each airport.
Passenger traffic at Catalan airports continues to grow. In June 2025, more than 5.2 million people passed through El Prat, an increase of 4.2% compared to the previous year. Girona-Costa Brava Airport handled 307,700 passengers during the same period, up 12.7%, while the number of flights rose by 30% in the first half of the year. Reus recorded 209,000 passengers in June, a 9.3% increase, and the number of operations grew by 7%. In Lleida, passenger flow increased by 20%, reaching 4,800 travelers.
Local authorities and business representatives note that the airports in Girona and Reus are underused, and their potential could help ease the load on El Prat. At the same time, any changes must take into account the interests of all stakeholders and maintain service quality.
The implementation of these plans largely depends on the position of Aena, the company that manages most airports in Spain. Catalan politicians have repeatedly voiced dissatisfaction that the state-owned company and the Ministry of Transport focus more on Madrid’s Barajas Airport than on El Prat. However, due to Aena’s organizational structure and the need to consider the interests of the whole country, the scope for granting further powers to the region is limited.
The future of Catalan airports remains an open question, but it is already clear that both regional and Spanish authorities are seeking new solutions to effectively develop the aviation infrastructure, enhance its competitiveness, and improve environmental sustainability.
