Protests over mass tourism in the Balearics put Aena in the spotlight
The airport company’s plan to expand the capacity of the islands’ airports, to almost 50 million passengers in 2031, revives mobilisations
Massive tourism protests in the Balearic Islands have put Aena, the public airport management entity, under scrutiny. In August, Son Sant Joan airport in Palma set a record with 4.8 million passengers, while Ibiza's airport approached its highest monthly total of 1.5 million. The issue of tourism growth has moved beyond being an ideal scenario for administrations, as debates in recent weeks have turned critical towards Aena, which is 51% owned by the state through Enaire.
The approval of the third Airport Regulatory Document (DORA III) on September 15 further ignited tensions, predicting more passengers for these airports and sparking a new political clash over expansion and capacity plans.
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