In Spain, the new terminal under construction at Barcelona's El Prat airport will be completed by the end of this year or early 2008, although it will not begin operating until at least a few months later. The terminal will increase the number of flights into or out of the airport from 61 to 90, boosting the number of slots on offer by 75 per cent. Airlines have already begun to eye up the terminal: Spanish airline Spanair and its partners in the Star Alliance network have already indicated that they want to make it their hub.
Meanwhile, Iberia, the Spanish flagship carrier, has also expressed an interest in the terminal. Iberia is still El Prat's leading airline, despite a reduction in market share from 48 per cent in 2000 to 30 per cent. The airline has not yet submitted an official request to base its operations at the new terminal, with sources stating that it will not do so in the short-term. Low-cost airline Clickair, in which Iberia owns a stake, has submitted a request, while fellow low-cost airlines Vueling and EasyJet have also expressed an interest but are remaining cautious. According to Aena, the Spanish airports and air traffic authority, a decision will be made within the next three months.
Original article by I.Pujol / A.Marimon
Abstracted from Expansion
