Interview with Jordi Candela, Director General, Aeroports de Catalunya

01 Jan Interview with Jordi Candela, Director General, Aeroports de Catalunya

What key strengths make Catalonia’s aviation sector stand out in 2025?

Catalonia is one of the main gateways to Spain and Europe for the international market. The region’s airports have achieved historic traffic records in developing new routes. Catalonia is now a leader in tourism based on quality and social and economic profitability. There has been an increase in the modern internationalization of Catalan companies with increased global connectivity. Airports in Catalonia follow the California model where passenger traffic is concentrated on the coast while inland airports focus more on industry. Barcelona is the region’s major international gateway, handling more than 55 million passengers in 2024. Girona and Reus airports act as complementary gateways to tourist areas such as Costa Brava and Costa Daurada.

What are Aeroports de Catalunya’s current goals in developing Lleida-Alguaire Airport and Andorra-La Seu d’Urgell Airport?

We focus on achieving excellence, finding competitive advantages in strategic niches and ensuring our activities provide significant returns to the local economy. We want to embrace the ongoing transformation of the aviation industry and believe we are a fundamental part of this change. A top challenge for the company is to position the inland Lleida-Alguaire Airport as a center of excellence, technological advancement and sustainability. We do not have a high volume of passengers at Lleida airport; the airport currently handles around 28,000 operations per year. It is located in one of the least densely populated areas of Catalonia. Our strategy is to develop it as a state-of-the-art airport that serves as a base for various industries.

Notably, the Lleida airport is the first in Spain to produce hydrogen from photovoltaic energy. This initiative aligns with our commitment to the aviation revolution. Another key innovative project at the airport is the development of a vertiport, which functions as a drone heliport integrated within a commercial airport. It is the first airport in Europe to have a fully integrated vertiport within a traditional air traffic control tower. As urban mobility evolves, we foresee passenger routes will switch to boarding drones to reach city centers to increase efficiency. The airport is actively participating in multiple European projects to explore mobility solutions. It is also a testing center for aircraft engines. We are continuously updating the airport to support the expected growth of various industrial activities and act as a key site for future aviation technologies. Our goal is to create a competitive environment that attracts companies.

Catalonia’s network of airports is complemented by Andorra-La Seu Airport, which we also manage. It is the closest commercial airport to Andorra and acts as a gateway to the neighboring country and the Pyrenees. It is a boutique airport and a leading fixed-based operator that accommodates private and commercial flights. We are currently positioning the airport as a future regional aviation hub by establishing corporate alliances with businesses linked to Andorra. The airport is growing; we initially had one based hanger, and we now have 19. Currently, nine additional hangers are being developed to meet heightened demand. It is becoming a corporate and public services hub. We are embracing all complementary industries linked to the market such as maintenance and training. The Andorra-La Seu Airport is a project of excellence and is considered the most advanced luxury fixed-base operator in Spain. Nestled in the mountains, this small airport provides high-quality services and caters to a premium clientele. It is a strategic and high-value asset.

What other major projects and responsibilities does the company have in building up the potential of the local aviation sector?

We also contribute to airport marketing and route development of the airports managed by the state-owned AENA. In the case of Barcelona, we created the Barcelona Air Route Development Committee alongside the Catalan government, Barcelona City Council, AENA and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce. The latter acts as a one-stop shop for bringing long-haul flights into Barcelona to improve connectivity with the United States and Asia and increase overall capacity. This is a major challenge that is crucial for the region’s development.

Girona’s airport is managed by AENA. We have worked with the regional government and local administrations to create a distinctive commercial strategy for this airport and its own brand identity, including giving the airport the International Air Transport Association code GRO to support the GROwing slogan. We aim for Girona’s airport to play a key role in handling Barcelona’s airport’s limited capacity. Flying to Girona saves airlines a significant amount of time. The city has increasingly become a competitive option in terms of charges and emissions. The airports in both Girona and Reus will been improved by the arrival of high-speed train services and will serve as highly valuable complementary facilities to Barcelona. Our regional airports have significant potential.

Another major project for the company is building a network of 24-hour helipads to support public services such as medical transport and firefighting operations. This infrastructure will significantly enhance connectivity and ensure residents of Catalonia — particularly those in remote areas — have access to the highest standards of emergency healthcare within a reasonable timeframe. Helipads allow swift medical transportation to hospitals and improve response times in critical situations.

How would you assess the level of talent in Catalonia’s aviation sector?

Catalonia produces highly skilled professionals that are valuable to the global industry. Our mission as a public company is to foster talent; our innovation and industrial projects align with this goal. We encourage the presence of Catalonia’s industry in our airports as it allows us to attract and retain talent. Our initiative is still in its information-gathering phase. However, it is closely linked to our aviation campus at the Lleida airport, which handles flight schools and pilot training programs. We also have aircraft maintenance and drone pilot schools.

We have also signed significant agreements with academic institutions such as universities. Our partners are actively involved in research and development, including hydrogen-related projects to create test centers powered by renewable energy. These collaborations generate synergies and fresh opportunities. Our partner universities play a key role in the aviation industry’s innovation. Our collaborative programs ensure students engage in real-world problem-solving; this hands-on approach provides practical application of their studies and keeps them motivated. A significant part of our mission is supporting vocational talent and providing them with conditions to stay, work and contribute to the economy. Catalonia also has a strong startup and innovation ecosystem, particularly in the aerospace and aviation sectors. As emerging companies in these industries continue to grow, they will require the infrastructure required for research, product development and testing. We are committed to supporting them in this process.

What disruptive technologies is Aeroports de Catalunya introducing into its operations?

Artificial intelligence and data analysis are interesting areas for us. We currently have three exciting new projects. The first won an award from the Spanish industry association AMETIC for tracking international SIM cards arriving at Catalan airports. Tracking allows us to know where international visitors stay in different municipalities, and we can now assess visitor flows during specific periods. This data allows airports to refine tourism guidance and better target our offerings. This data is extremely valuable for the mobility and tourism sectors and helps local businesses tailor their offerings to specific markets during peak seasons.

Our second project related to digitization is an internal tool that processes public flight data and analyzes daily airport operations. We actively assess the performance of different flights and evaluate our quality of service, including specific routes, airlines and airports. We track which airports are more punctual at specific times and compare our data with other European regions. This information helps us improve the quality of Catalonia’s aviation services. Currently, this initiative is primarily a business-to-business initiative. However, we aim to expand this to having business-to-consumer applications.

Our third major project focuses on data-driven solutions for heliport operations. Heliports typically have lower activity levels and managing on-site personnel can be challenging. Critical operations require staff. However, stationing personnel at each location is inefficient due to the low frequency of flights. We are developing a remote operations management center so a single operator can manage an entire network of heliports remotely. This initiative is part of our broader effort to optimize global heliport operations using the latest technology.

What is the company doing to help Catalonia achieve its goal of having net-zero emissions by 2050?

We are fully committed to the Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program and aim to achieve carbon neutrality within five years. We believe this is achievable at the Lleida-Alguaire Airport by implementing a large-scale photovoltaic park across the airport’s grounds. We are confident we can reach carbon neutrality and possibly become carbon negative. This transition can be replicated in other airports as most have large and unused areas next to runways that can be repurposed for solar energy generation. This approach has been well received in the United States. Sustainability initiatives help build strategic synergies. While airports are often seen as a source of disruption, they can also serve as energy generators and valuable assets for surrounding communities. We collaborate with local municipalities to develop energy return systems and benefit the region.

We are also exploring large-scale hydrogen production based on our access to electricity and water. Harnessing these resources effectively will allow us to produce a significant amount of hydrogen that can be used by the region and abroad. There is significant capacity to develop large-scale renewable energy production projects based on Catalonia’s geography.

What are the main goals of the company’s 2030 strategic aviation plan?

Our long-term vision is to interconnect the Barcelona airport to Girona and Reus regional airports to optimize capacity and strategically distribute air traffic. Girona airport is a more sustainable and cost-effective option for most airlines flying to Catalonia from the north. The Reus airport is situated in a highly touristic area. Directing passengers to the region has strategic advantages. Educating travelers and implementing targeted airport strategies are key to making this approach successful. Our main focus is to optimize each airport’s competitive advantages within the broader network. The aviation industry is highly competitive and significantly differs from the conventional public transportation sector. Success requires a combination of marketing, strategic planning and strong market positioning.

What efforts have been made to strengthen connectivity between US airports and Catalonia?

Our project with the Barcelona Airport Route Committee began more than 20 years ago. At the time, Barcelona’s airport had high traffic volumes and was well connected within Europe but lacked direct intercontinental routes. Several years ago, there were very few direct flights to the United States. Thanks to our strategic efforts, we have turned this around and successfully positioned Barcelona as a key aviation hub for the United States. Airlines now operate direct flights from Barcelona to the North American nation’s major cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and Dallas. While this has significantly strengthened our international network, there is still room for growth. Many of these connections are seasonal and operate only in the summer months. We aim to make these routes more consistent and ensure regular flights throughout the year. Year-round connectivity is a major advantage for businesses and startups. Direct routes enhance reliability, accessibility and overall quality of business transactions. With the introduction of new aircraft models such as the extra-long-range Airbus A321XLR, Catalonia is well positioned to expand direct routes ranging between 9 to 10 hours with new destinations. We operate in a highly globalized market; strengthening our aviation infrastructure will ensure Catalonia’s continued growth and competitiveness.

What long-term future do you see for Catalonia’s aviation sector, and what needs to be done to achieve its potential?

We do not anticipate a mid-term revolution on the scale of the early 2000s when European airport travel experienced massive changes due to the low-fare revolution. Projections indicate steady growth in air passenger transport. Many regions in Europe have significantly lower air travel activity compared to other parts of the world, which suggests an organic and sustained expansion in the coming years. In the long term, sustainability will be a permanent shift rather than a passing trend. The aviation industry will become more environmentally friendly. The first step will be the widespread adoption of sustainable aviation fuel followed by other long-term advancements in aircraft technology. The ultimate challenge will be developing next-generation aircraft powered by renewable fuels such as liquid hydrogen. We believe we can contribute to driving innovation.

Our current top priority as a company is generating wealth and opportunities for the Catalan economy. We want to deliver heightened opportunities to internationalize Catalan companies and attract international investments. We play an integral role in creating superior employment options and improving the quality of life for local citizens. Our second top priority is positioning the region as a leader in sustainability and destigmatizing the aviation industry. Our third major priority is to enhance Catalonia’s global connectivity through committees and strategic initiatives.