Overview
- The Cambra de Comerç released the study on Monday, June 15, 2026, reporting that airport‑related activity generates €33.689 billion in turnover, contributes €16.399 billion to Catalonia’s GDP and supports about 218,000 jobs.
- Authors say tourism — including leisure, business and MICE travel — is the main structural force behind Barcelona‑El Prat’s unusually high origin‑destination connectivity, which ranks fifth in Europe and 22nd globally.
- The study identifies roughly 5.3 million annual passengers who must connect elsewhere because El Prat lacks direct long‑haul links and presents a CDRA 2030 roadmap targeting Asia‑Pacific, North America, Latin America and more than 70 missing routes.
- Experts warn the airport is operating above its theoretical 55 million capacity after exceeding 57 million passengers in 2025 and the Cambra calls for runway and terminal capacity projects plus higher frequencies to capture long‑haul demand.
- The Cambra urges greater local and regional participation in airport governance to steer route development and infrastructure decisions, arguing that more direct long‑haul links would attract investment, boost year‑round business travel and strengthen ties with the port and cruise markets.