PALMA de Mallorca airport is set to undergo a multi-million-euro revamp to meet increasing demand forecast for the next four years.
Air terminal governing body AENA plans to spend €297 million on Son Sant Joan, Spain's third-largest airport after Madrid's Adolfo Suárez-Barajasa and Barcelona's El Prat, having predicted that passenger numbers will rise from its current 26 million to an annual 28.5 million by the year 2021.
Already shifting 66 flights an hour, Son Sant Joan has now been given authorisation to transport 80 flights an hour, which means creating more space to keep delays to a minimum – especially during high tourist season.
The amount due to be invested in upgrading the airport is more than the sum it cost to build at the outset, and three times the bill for the controversial Palma Arena building.
Mallorca airport is not planning on increasing the number of flights beyond the 80 a day authorised, but says at least half the money will be used to expand the terminal for passengers' 'safety and comfort' and to cut down on delays.
The priority investment will be modernising the luggage-handling system, a job due to be carried out over 2018 and 2019, and security procedures will be improved over the next four years.
Additional corridors will be built from departure lounges to reach the suspension bridges used for passengers to embark, to avoid their having to walk or bus across the runway.
Shopping areas will be extended at a cost of €15m, and runway 06L-24R will be given a full renovation rendering it suitable for fast take-offs.
Moving walkways, escalators and lifts will be fitted to enable passengers to get to their departure lounges and arrivals to get through customs, baggage reclaim and passport control more quickly, and additional 'parking bays' for planes will be included.
This increases turnover, keeping carriers' costs down as they spend less time on the ground, and reduces take-off delays.
Son Sant Joan saw its highest passenger numbers in history last year, and now it is able to allow 80 planes an hour to take off – one every 45 seconds – AENA wants to ensure it is capable of transporting up to a peak of 34 million travellers per annum.
The airport is already open 24 hours a day year-round, meaning planes can take off and land at any time of the day or night.
