Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Spain’s Minister for Transport and Mobility, Óscar Puente, announced a €1.5 billion investment to expand Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport, which aims to increase its capacity to 36 million passengers annually. In 2024, the airport served nearly 25 millions passengers.
Puente confirmed the project expansion, which is to be included in DORA III (Airport Regulation Document), effective 2027-2031, will commence immediately. Aena (the Spanish airport authority) is planning to approve the contracting of technical assistance for the draft project plans during its next board meeting. The goal is to start work as quickly as possible. The minister stated that funding is dependent on DORA and not the national budget. This should ensure approval by September 2026.
The project was announced at an event held by Sur. It follows Aena’s presentation in June of the expansion plan. This will almost double the current terminal area, from 80,000 square metres to 140,000. Upgrade plans will increase capacity as well as service quality. Puente said that Malaga airport, as well as other airports in Spain, has significant expansion potential.
Project includes new taxiways for improved aircraft circulation. Airport does not need more runways, just better efficiency. It is planned to build a new non Schengen flight wing, with centralised border controls, increased aircraft contact positions and a revised baggage handling system. Security screening areas will increase by 112 per cent, departure passport control by 515 per cent, non-Schengen/flexible waiting and boarding areas by 381 per cent, and Schengen flight areas by 126 per cent.
The improvements are expected to streamline the passenger process from arrival to boarding, and vice versa. This will increase the capacity of the airport and improve its service quality in order to meet the growing demand.
