Palma airport could come under local control as passengers decline

PALMA
THE Spanish government could open the door for the Balearics to take part control of Palma airport if it decides to alter the regional airport management benchmark.

Last year, the government ruled that regional authorities can only be involved in local management of airports if they handled over 30 million passengers per year.

However, it was revealed yesterday that, in response to the sharp decline in passenger numbers at Spanish airports, the government may significantly reduce that benchmark.

Last year, Palma's Son San Joan airport handled nearly 23 million passengers and under the proposed new government guidelines, the Balearics will be eligible to participate in the management of Palma airport - the country's third busiest. The Balearic government already has a public/private management proposal ready to submit to Madrid.