The major renovation of T1 at Barcelona airport has now officially begun. Aena has just launched the tender for the drafting of the remodeling project, which will be the largest action at the airport since its previous expansion in 2009.
The amount of the tender is 16 million euros, as stated in the file documents. But this item will only cover the drafting of the technical design. The work, which will last about two years, will have a total cost of hundreds of millions of euros, industry sources estimate. It will also entail significant changes, such as the relocation of Miró’s mural from the current T2 to the new façade of T1, as La Vanguardia reported. There is no precedent in the world for the transfer of a work of art of such dimensions or relevance.
These works are unrelated to the eventual expansion of El Prat, whose negotiation remains at a standstill due to the political situation. The electoral advance in Catalonia first and the surprising action of the president of the central government, Pedro Sánchez, who is considering resigning from office, have stymied the work to find a consensus solution for one of the main infrastructures of Catalonia.
The evolution of the airport, however, will continue outside the turbulent political agenda. In the update of its strategic plan, presented in March, Aena explained the project to improve T1, with a series of actions that will affect the main façade. The company chaired by Maurici Lucena will install new entry filters, with scanners that will allow passengers to pass security checks without having to remove liquids or laptops from bags and suitcases. These new filters will facilitate entry flow into the terminal and are expected to save time and hassle for passengers. In order for these machines to fit, it will be necessary to move the entire façade a few meters towards the area where the current access roads are.
Apart from moving the façade and the arrivals and departures board, Aena plans to expand the central roof of T1 and cover patios. A profound transformation, therefore, which is why the listed company has contacted the family of architect Ricardo Bofill with the aim of preserving the original design of the terminal.
At the same time that the tender to start the project has already started, Enaire technicians are studying the best option to move Miró’s mural without it suffering any damage.
Once the technical project has been drawn up and the work has been awarded, the works themselves will begin. It is estimated that these will begin between the end of the year and the beginning of 2025, while the entire operation will have a total duration of about two years.
All this, while El Prat is once again approaching its passenger limit, set at 55 million people per year.
