El Prat Airport Runs on One Runway for 11 Days From Nov. 16
Barcelona-El Prat airport will use only its seaside runway from Nov. 16 to Nov. 26 for taxiway works, cutting capacity by around 15%. What flyers can expect.
Barcelona’s airport will handle every takeoff and landing on a single runway for 11 days, from Monday, Nov. 16 to Thursday, Nov. 26. Aena, the state company that runs Spain’s main airports, is building a new rapid-exit taxiway, and the work requires two of the airport’s three runways to stay closed.
The switch cuts capacity by around 15%, according to Crónica Global. Aena says the reduction was planned in advance with airlines, so the smaller schedule is already built into current timetables rather than showing up as last-minute cancellations.
What it means for people flying in and out of Barcelona
Normally the Aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat runs two runways in segregated mode, with one used for departures and the other for arrivals. During the works, all traffic moves to the runway closest to the sea, known as 06R/24L. The cross runway (02/20) and the long inner runway (06L/24R) will both be out of use.
In practice, a large number of slots (the time windows airlines get for each takeoff or landing) are being removed or rescheduled compared with the usual programme. Aena said it coordinated the cut with airlines and with the bodies that assign slots, so carriers could adjust their commercial schedules before selling or moving tickets.
The weaker point is the margin for trouble. With one runway, the airport has less room to absorb problems it does not control. Strong wind, low visibility or delays building up in European airspace can lead to waits on the ground or in the air more easily than on a normal day. Crónica Global reported that passengers flying to or from Barcelona during the 11 days are being advised to check their flight status with their airline before heading to the terminal. Aena said it will monitor operations continuously and adapt to the weather.
Why Aena is building a new taxiway
The rapid-exit taxiway will link the cross runway (02/20) with taxiway T4. The project includes new paving, drainage, runway lighting and power supply. Aena awarded it for 3.1 million euros, with a total execution period of twelve and a half months.
Aena said the work will not raise the airport’s declared capacity. It will let planes leave the runway faster after landing. According to the company, that means shorter waits and taxiing times, lower fuel use and fewer emissions.
The new link should also make it easier to use the preferred night-time runway setup. That configuration matters for neighbouring towns, because it is used to limit aircraft noise over municipalities around the airport.
The rest of the works happen at night
The single-runway period is the most demanding phase of a longer project. The other work is scheduled between Sept. 21 and the first half of December and is carried out at night, with occasional closures that do not change normal daytime operations.
The works come as Spain and Catalonia move toward shared management of the airport: the Spanish and Catalan governments have signed an agreement for Catalonia to take part in running El Prat.
Source: Crónica Global
