Today the Minister of Transport has put on the table the Government’s position for the expansion of the El Prat airport, which has been set as one of the Executive’s priorities during this term in terms of mobility. Óscar Puente has defended making runway 24L/06R larger, the last of the three, the closest to the sea.
“Our position on the expansion of the Barcelona airport is clear: it is necessary to increase the operational capacity because it is a candidate to become an intercontinental ‘hub’, so either the operation of the runways is varied, causing inconvenience to the neighbors, or one is expanded. of the slopes, the one closest to the sea so as not to cause harm to the neighbors and with maximum environmental respect,” Puente stated during his appearance in Congress to present the general lines of his ministry.
The minister has defended accelerating the work in the technical commission formed between the State and the Generalitat. “We have a position, but we do not govern in Catalonia,” he explained. “I have to respect, whether I like it or not, whether they know how to manage or not, whether they are the government of Castilla y León or that of Catalonia, because they represent the citizens. We must dialogue to find a solution, we will try to make the most comprehensive decision,” he added.
“We will continue working to achieve the necessary institutional consensus and ensure that this airport becomes a first-class intercontinental hub,” Puente defended.
The ministry also plans to promote during this term plans to expand other airports, including Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and other facilities in the Canary Islands, such as Tenerife South, Tenerife North Lanzarote), as well as the remodeling of Palma de Mallorca and other actions. in other airports with less traffic such as Melilla or Córdoba.
Puente has also referred this Thursday to the measure contemplated in the coalition pact with Sumar to eliminate short flights of less than two and a half hours that can be replaced by another means of transport. The minister has assured that “it is an issue that must be studied” and has defended that the measure would have “a small scope.”
