"The debate about the expansion of El Prat Airport is an analog debate, when we are in a digital world." This is according to the vice president of America's Cup Events Barcelona and former president of Barcelona Global, Aurora Catà, who warns that, in a global world, airport infrastructure is key for connections and does not need excuses to improve. "The airport in this global world is equivalent to the 'rondas' of '92," she said this Thursday at an event organized by Barcelona Global at the Antiga Fàbrica Damm to analyze the impact of major events in the city, from the Olympic Games to the America's Cup.
With this Olympic reference, Catà suggested that, just as the 'rondas' were built to improve the city's connectivity, now it must be done with the airport and turn it into an intercontinental hub. Just as road infrastructure opened new ways of moving in Barcelona ---and deep divides in neighborhoods it crossed---, now new ways of connecting it to the world are required, as the different participants in the event agreed to defend.
The general director of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), Mike Blackman, admitted that the lack of sufficient intercontinental connections at the airport was one of the elements that generated the most debate when deciding whether or not to hold the event in Barcelona. They then looked at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) and concluded that, if it was possible for it to be a success in the Catalan capital, it could also be for the ISE. He detailed that they were also concerned about issues such as security and highlighted the work that the City Council is carrying out in this area.
The Primavera Sound conditions its continuity in Barcelona with the same dimension on the future of the Forum's Marina PlatformThe president of Racc, Josep Mateu, has advocated for El Prat to host intercontinental flights and for Girona and Reus to focus on short-haul flights. Furthermore, the lack of direct intercontinental connections can be the entry point for competitors to Barcelona and the differentiating element that gives them the advantage, as warned by the vice president and global general manager of HP's 3D printing business, Ramon Pastor. In a similar vein, the spokesperson for the Federation of Business Organizations of Girona (Foeg) for the Ryder Cup, Jaume Dulsat, has advocated for organizing the Catalan airport map, positioning El Prat as hub and improving the connection of Girona and Reus for flights low cost.
For his part, the co-director of Primavera Sound Albert Guijarro has shared the need for transatlantic flights. However, he has emphasized another matter: he has warned that the future of the festival will depend on the use given to the area known as the Fòrum Marine Platform. With a capacity of about 65,000 people, it is a unique space in Barcelona due to its capacity. "Depending on what happens on the platform, we will not be able to hold the festival in the city with its current dimension," he warned. According to him, the fate of this large esplanade is being discussed with technicians from the City Council and will soon move to political debate: "It is time to convince politicians that it is a very interesting space for large events." The future of this large area, where a marine zoo was planned to be located but was discarded in 2011, has been debated for years at the municipal level.
The conversion of El Prat Airport into an intercontinental hub generates such debate among supporters and detractors that various private organizations have launched proposals, such as Barcelona Global, which proposes extending the third runway by 350 meters and complementing it with a 300-meter clear way, an unpaved and obstacle-free safety area. Foment del Treball this week proposed extending the runway over the La Ricarda lagoon.
Despite the number of proposals launched ---among which is also building the runway over the sea---, the matter remains on stand by. And even more so after the Port de Barcelona warned after Foment's proposal that the airport expansion could interfere with the future of the port, especially due to the limitation of crane height due to its proximity to the airport infrastructure. The president of the Port, Lluís Salvadó, pointed out that the port has so far maintained a discreet role in this debate about the airport, but warned that not only the needs of El Prat, its natural environment and neighbors, but also the implications it may have for the Port de Barcelona and its development, must be taken into account.
Impact of large events
The legacy that major events have left in the Catalan capital over the years has also been addressed through a study by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) presented by Professor Oriol Amat. He highlighted that these events leave both a tangible and intangible legacy, ranging from investment to infrastructure, including reputation, international image, and job creation. Specifically, the study concludes that these major events have an impact of 1.5% of GDP and internationalize the economy. Furthermore, they revitalize it beyond tourism, as they impact sectors such as new technologies, automotive, and culture.
The Director General of Commerce of the Generalitat trusts that Barcelona will be designated as European Capital of Proximity CommerceProgress is also being made in this regard through business tourism, as highlighted by the director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau of Turisme de Barcelona, Christoph Tessmar. He did so at an event opened by the president of Barcelona Global, Gabriel Jené. Representatives from the City Council and commercial hubs attended, such as the Councilor for Commerce, Raquel Gil, and former mayor Xavier Trias.
The director general of Commerce of the Generalitat, Jordi Torrades, has also attended, expressing confidence that Barcelona will be designated European Capital of Proximity Commerce. It would represent a boost for commerce in the Catalan capital, which now faces new transformations due to the America's Cup, especially in the Port Vell. As Catà commented, "the Olympic Games placed Barcelona on the world map in the first division. The America's Cup is an international reminder that Barcelona is an open city, with talent and where one can invest."