The Spanish government is preparing to rename Palma de Mallorca Airport to Palma-Mallorca Airport, aligning with the city’s official name and keeping the island reference. The change is not yet final, and the airport’s PMI code will remain unchanged.
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has initiated the process to officially rename Palma de Mallorca Airport, one of Spain’s busiest air hubs, to Palma-Mallorca Airport. This move comes after years of discussion over the airport’s title, aiming to reflect the city’s official name, Palma, while maintaining a clear reference to the island of Mallorca.
The proposed change is outlined in a draft order currently under review. According to the ministry, the airport’s international code, PMI, will not be affected. The draft is open for public and institutional feedback until September 15, 2026. Only after this period will the ministry analyze the submitted comments, finalize the text, and publish the official order. Until then, Aena, the airport operator, will continue using the current name.
Background to the Change
The push for a new name stems from a legal update in December 2016, when Spain’s Ley 15/2016 replaced “Palma de Mallorca” with “Palma” as the city’s official designation. Despite this, the airport retained the older form. The new proposal introduces a hyphen, separating the city and island names, and aligns the airport’s title with current territorial nomenclature. The names of Palma and Mallorca themselves remain unchanged.
The ministry cites international aviation standards as part of its reasoning, referencing recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization. Local groups, such as the OCB, had previously suggested alternatives like “Aeroport de Palma,” “Aeroport de Palma (Mallorca),” or “Aeroport de Palma-Mallorca.” The chosen formula preserves the island’s international recognition, which is significant given the airport’s role as a major gateway for over 33 million passengers and nearly 250,000 operations in 2025, according to Aena.
What Will Change for Travelers
Once the new name is officially adopted, all legal and administrative references to Palma de Mallorca Airport will shift to Palma-Mallorca Airport. This will require updates to signage, official documents, and digital platforms, though no timeline for these changes has been announced. Importantly, the airport’s operations, flight schedules, routes, security procedures, and baggage rules will remain unaffected. The PMI code will continue to identify the airport, and there are no plans to reissue tickets or require additional steps from passengers. During the transition, both names may appear in some materials until the process is complete.
Timeline and Next Steps
The September 15 deadline marks the end of the public consultation period, not the start of the new name. The ministry will review all feedback before making a final decision. As of August 11, 2026, no specific date has been set for the publication of the new name or for updating airport signage. Some organizations, such as Fem-ho en Català, have welcomed the change but may request that the name appear fully in Catalan. The final version will depend on the ministry’s review and approval process.
Origins of the Proposal
The campaign to update the airport’s name began in September 2025, when the OCB formally requested alignment with the city’s official toponymy. The ministry responded by emphasizing the importance of retaining “Mallorca” for international clarity. In July 2026, the OCB presented several alternatives, with the ministry ultimately selecting the Palma-Mallorca format. The historic name of the airport site, Son Sant Joan, remains unchanged as a local reference, but is not part of the official administrative title.
Palma de Mallorca Airport has served as a key transport hub since commercial flights moved to its current location in 1959, opening to national and international traffic in 1960. The current process affects only the airport’s official name, not its location, management, or day-to-day operations.
For context, Palma-Mallorca Airport is among the busiest in Spain, especially during the summer, serving as a vital link for tourism and employment on the island. The name change is intended to clarify the airport’s identity and bring it in line with legal and linguistic standards, while minimizing disruption for travelers and staff.
