General Rejection of the Proposed Suspension of Airport Operations
At the government level, there has been widespread rejection of the Government’s proposal that seeks to suspend the segregated operations of the Prat airport. This initiative aims to allow both runways to operate independently for four hours a day in the summer months, hosting both landings and takeoffs.
The first voice to express his disagreement was that of the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, who described it as not very serious and a mere attempt to appear committed to the development of infrastructure. Hereu criticized the lack of strategic decisions by the Catalan executive.
Along the same lines, Salvador Illa, leader of the socialists in Catalonia, considered the Government’s proposal unviable without addressing the concerns of the residents of Gavà. He stressed the importance of respecting prior agreements on noise reduction.
The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, supported the previous opinions, arguing that the proposal violates previous agreements and would worsen the acoustic quality of the airport, affecting the health of residents in Castelldefels and Gavà.
Defense of the Proposal by the President of the Generalitat
The president of the Generalitat and ERC candidate, Pere Aragonès, defended the Government’s proposal, highlighting its viability and the possibility of implementing it in a shorter period of time. Aragonès urged Aena to assume responsibility for soundproofing the urban areas near the airport.
Aragonès recognized the temporary impact on the population, but assured that it would remain within legal limits and would be for a limited period. He promised to take the proposal to the State-Generalitat technical commission for evaluation.
Proposal for Modification in the Operation of El Prat Airport
The Government proposes adjustments to the operations of the Prat airport during the summer months, with the aim of increasing its capacity and adapting to future demands. Currently, El Prat has two parallel runways and one transversal, used in periods of low activity or at night.
The proposal seeks to allow both parallel runways to operate simultaneously during certain hours, which could increase the number of flights per hour. However, this measure faces challenges related to the environmental impact and inconvenience to residents, for which solutions are proposed such as aid for soundproofing or purchasing homes.
