Costa Brava Airport Traffic Increases

by author on Nov.28, 2010, under news

In the year 1997, just over half a million passengers passed through the Costa Brava airport of Girona. Due to lack of winter traffic the airport would typically close between the months of November and march, which made things awkward for Costa Brava residents, as they would have to resort to using Barcelona or Perpignan airports if they wished to travel to see family during the winter months and Christmas period.

The number of passengers passing through the Costa Brava airport was fairly consistent, and hovered around the half a million mark until 2003, when the number of passengers increased dramatically by almost 300 percent. The reason for this dramatic increase was thanks to cheap Irish Airline Ryanair; the company chose Girona Airport and the Costa Brava as their main gateway into Spain.

The following year, in 2004, passenger numbers passing through the airport doubled. Almost three million passengers used the Costa Brava airport in that year, and the limited facilities supplied by the airport were stretched.

In 2007, nearly five million passengers passed through the airport, and finally expansion plans were underway. It was many months before work began, and even more months before it was completed.

Renovations included doubling the amount of check-in desks and expanding the check-in area accordingly. Thankfully this led to a reduction of queue length, with more space for luggage.

Parking at Girona airport had always been a huge problem, the car park was only large enough for around 300 cars, and many people were forced to use a private parking a five minute walk away, which involved crossing a busy road and also having to pass through a muddy field.

The expansion plans included the building of a large multi-storey indoor car park, and several other parking areas for the vehicles belonging to airport workers.

An additional bar area was added downstairs by the arrival section, and extra services were provided such as a service for passengers with restricted mobility.

More shops were installed in the boarding area, and existing facilities were given a face-lift.

However, has all this work been in vain?

As far back as in 2008, the Daily Telegraph reported that Ryanair had threatened to pull out of several Spanish airports after baggage handlers cause disruption and chaos after going on strike.
Many British holidaymakers on route to Spain had been forced to abandon their luggage at Stansted Airport because of the strike action. Many travelers returning to the UK had to abandon their suitcases at Spanish airports and just carry what they could on board.

More recently, Girona have lost many of the business Ryanair bought as the company have began using Barcelona airport, and moved many of the flights that previously landed at Girona to Barcelona.

Not only is this a blow for Girona airport authorities, but also for the many Costa Brava residents that enjoyed the ease of being able to use the Costa Brava airport rather than traveling the long distance to Barcelona.

People that are want to get more information about the sphere of vacation home, make sure to go to the web page that was mentioned right in this line.