Airport operator Aena is set to invest more than €110 million in a significant overhaul of two of the three runways at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. These extensive works aim to enhance operational efficiency and safety, rather than directly increasing flight capacity, but serve as a critical preliminary step towards the airport’s much-debated major expansion.
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The primary focus of the investment is to streamline takeoff and landing manoeuvres on the sea runway and the cross runway. “We are looking for more operational efficiency and to improve operational safety,” Eva Valenzuela, director of the airport, and Jaume Bauza, head of operations, said in a joint statement reported by El País.
Paving the Way for Expansion
These upgrades coincide with a larger, more controversial, long-term expansion plan for El Prat. That project, which is still pending approval, aims to significantly boost traffic by extending the sea runway by 500 metres into the protected La Ricarda lagoon and building a new satellite terminal.
The proposed expansion has faced strong opposition from local mayors and environmental groups, sparking a heated public debate. Aena officials have clarified that the current runway improvements will not be made redundant by the future extension, framing them as a necessary foundation for any subsequent growth.
Overhaul of the Sea Runway
The most substantial part of the project, with a budget exceeding €100 million, targets the sea runway-the airport’s main departure strip. The plan involves a complete regeneration of the 2.6-kilometre asphalt surface, a process technically known as an overlay.
To reduce the common queues of aircraft waiting for takeoff, a second taxiway will be built at the runway head. This will double the number of waiting positions from three to six, allowing for faster aircraft processing before departure.
Environmental authorisation for this project phase is currently underway. Should it proceed without delays, work could commence in the winter of 2027 and is estimated to take 30 months to complete. During this period, the airport will face temporary limitations on its traffic capacity. Additionally, a new platform will be constructed to park up to six wide-body aircraft and to facilitate de-icing procedures, which are infrequent in Barcelona but necessary during rare cold snaps.
Immediate Works and Temporary Disruption
Before the major sea runway works begin, a more immediate upgrade will take place on the cross runway, which is used primarily at night to mitigate noise for nearby towns. A new rapid exit taxiway will be constructed to allow landing aircraft to vacate the runway more quickly, reducing their transit time to the terminal.
According to Airport Director Eva Valenzuela, clearing the runway faster consequently reduces the time other aircraft spend circling while waiting to land, which will result in “a reduction in emissions.”
This work will necessitate the closure of both the cross runway and the main runway for eleven days next November, a period of lower passenger demand. During this time, the airport’s capacity will be almost halved, dropping from a current rate of 38 landings and 40 takeoffs per hour to a maximum of 22 combined movements per hour.
The upgrades come as El Prat continues to experience strong growth, having recently set a new passenger record in February with nearly 3.9 million travellers. Ultimately, this investment serves as a crucial step to ensure the airport’s infrastructure can efficiently handle current and future demand, regardless of the outcome of the larger expansion debate.
