The Government has in its hands a new expansion project for the Barcelona airport that gives a twist to the approach with which the matter has been approached up to now. The proposal consists of building a new runway over the sea, one mile from the coast, and about 3,400 meters long so that all long-haul planes can take off from it without the current limitations, according to what La Vanguard . The runway would be connected to the current airport by means of a platform and would require an investment of approximately 2,100 million euros, above the 1,700 million foreseen in Aena’s initial project.
In this way, it would avoid affecting the space of the Natura 2000 network, an issue that has been at the center of the controversy over the future of El Prat and that has caused an intense internal dilemma in ERC, with detractors and supporters of the airport expansion. . It would, however, impact the marine ecosystem.
This option has been prepared by a consultant at the initiative of the engineer and manager Joaquim Coello and has been presented to members of the Government, including Pere Aragonès, who are carefully analyzing it. Not surprisingly, restarting the talks on the airport without a proposal of their own that serves as a basis can place them at a negotiating disadvantage compared to the Ministry of Transport and Aena. And also wear down ERC in the electoral contest for the Barcelona city council.
The initiative for a track over the sea, therefore, has opened a new path, although the Government has not assumed it as its own or official for now. He weighs pros and cons, like other initiatives that have come to his table from civil society.
This project also presents a second novelty. The technology with which he proposes to build the runway and the platform that would connect it to the airport differs from what has been used so far in airports with runways over water, such as in Japan. Instead, it would use the system with which offshore wind turbines are installed, with pylons connecting the windmills.
In case of prospering and convincing the Government, there would be great points to be resolved. First, the technical suitability and community air safety. Second, the investment. It would exceed the Aena project by more than 400 million euros, which the airlines would also pay with the fees they pay. And third, but equally or more relevant, the environmental impact, both on the seabed and on the coast. The El Prat town council had already rejected previous initiatives that suggested building tracks over the sea.
With this, there are now four alternatives managed by parties and civil society for a possible expansion of the airport. Apart from that of Aena –extending the third runway 500 meters towards La Ricarda–, the option of extending this runway 200 meters towards La Ricarda and 100 meters towards El Remolar, without affecting the lagoons, but the protected natural space in the Natura 2000 Network. It would also include signage to lengthen the take-off surface of aircraft. In this way, this project points out, the airport’s capacity could be increased (90 operations per hour) while maintaining the current runway system – segregated, with one runway for landing and another for taking off – and without causing further acoustic disturbance.
Another alternative proposes extending the third runway 350 meters only towards La Ricarda (without touching El Remolar), safeguarding the lagoon. This proposal, however, implies limitations in the operation of the airport. Some of the largest planes could not take off from it under certain environmental conditions, so the operation could not reach 90 flights per hour.
Aena sources have indicated in this sense that extending the third runway by only 350 meters would not solve the congestion problems of El Prat nor would it allow the planned air capacity for long-haul flights to be gained, which they want to enhance with the expansion. These planes require a runway of a certain length and adding 500 meters to the sea runway would be the bare minimum, continue these sources, due to the size, engine and maximum weight of these planes, including the latest models.
The third runway is currently 2,660 meters long, which, if extended by half a kilometer, would reach 3,160 meters. Below that, the flight and capacity limitations would continue, and the Natura 2000 area where La Ricarda is located would continue to be affected. The runway proposal over the sea foresees a length of about 3,400 meters, enough for intercontinental planes – those that fly to the west coast of the United States or to the Far East – could take off from there. The debate on the airport thus picks up speed again after the budget pact.