Aena, Spain's airport operator, awarded a €2.68 million contract on 4 February for the drafting of a revised master plan for Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport and the environmental impact assessment linked to the proposed expansion. The contract went to a consortium formed by Mott MacDonald Spain and Idom Consultoria, according to the company and reporting confirmed by ACN.
For residents near El Prat and for travellers using Barcelona's main airport, the award marks the formal start of the technical and environmental work needed before any expansion can move forward. The documents are expected to define the airport's future layout and assess the effects of any works on surrounding protected areas.
Aena said the contract covers the drafting of the revised master plan and the environmental impact study for the airport project.
Award follows Aena's earlier announcement of an imminent tender
The award follows Aena president Maurici Lucena's public statement that the tender was imminent. In an official Aena press release published on 10 October 2025, Lucena announced the "imminent tender" of the new master plan for Barcelona-El Prat. Aena later published a frequently asked questions page on the airport expansion setting out the company's position on the project and the environmental process.
The contract reported this week is separate from other airport works already under way or tendered at El Prat, including projects linked to Terminal 1. This commission is specifically for planning and environmental evaluation, both required before any larger expansion scheme can be approved.
What the contract includes
According to the verified reports, the commission includes the revised planning documents for the airport and the environmental assessment needed for the proposal. That work will feed into the administrative process for any future expansion of El Prat.
- Contract value: €2.68 million
- Date awarded: Tuesday 4 February
- Winning consortium: Mott MacDonald Spain and Idom Consultoria
- Project: revised master plan and environmental impact assessment for Barcelona-El Prat Airport
Aena has argued that the airport needs updated planning to support hub development at Barcelona-El Prat. Any eventual expansion remains subject to environmental review and the corresponding public and administrative procedures.
The official channels setting out Aena's position are the company's press office and its expansion information page for Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, where readers can check the project's stated scope and background.
Primary sources: aena.es, esade.edu, aena.es, aena.es. Reported by Source Text Link, Cristina Hidalgo, Cristina Martín Valbuena, Tiana May, idom.com, oneworks, FORBES, Actualidad Aeroespacial, lavanguardia.com, expansion.com, Naomi Chadderton, Dermot Davitt, megaproject.com, betevé.
