Spain wants own terminal in Gibraltar as part of cross-border transport hub proposals

Spain is exploring plans to build its own passenger terminal at Gibraltar Airport as part of ambitious proposals to create a cross-border transport hub, capable of serving over 120,000 residents. The radical scheme would see La Línea, the Spanish border town, construct terminal facilities on Spanish soil to complement Gibraltar's existing airport infrastructure following the post-Brexit agreement that will effectively eliminate the physical border.

According to a memorandum drafted by the La Linea city hall this month, the disappearance of border controls between Gibraltar and Spain has created an opportunity for the airport to operate as a single, integrated facility serving both territories. The development would fundamentally change the airport's dynamics, as the Spanish terminal would likely become the dominant gateway, given that most passengers would be travelling onwards to Spain rather than staying in Gibraltar's territory.

The proposed Spanish terminal, The Olive Press reports, would enable commercial air routes to operate directly to Spanish territory, which would both improve connectivity for the region and boost La Línea's economy.

Officials in La Línea are now reviewing their urban development plans to assess whether land should be reserved for the hypothetical terminal, which would feature shared border controls and enhanced passenger facilities.

The airport expansion is part of a broader vision to transform La Línea into what planners describe as a "strategic transport and commercial hub", including itself with Gibraltar in an space that would function as a single urban area despite spanning two jurisdictions.

Under the new post-Brexit arrangements, Gibraltar will be de facto integrated into the Schengen Area, with border controls shifting from the land frontier to the port and airport. This has created what officials describe as the need for "coordinated planning" between the two territories.

The proposals also include a new funding mechanism that would allow La Línea to receive direct income from shared airport operations with Gibraltar, helping finance municipal services in the Spanish town.

However, the ambitious plans face significant infrastructure challenges. The existing A-7 motorway, the Autovía del Mediterráneo, which connects Spain's Mediterranean coast and provides access to Gibraltar, is already overloaded with traffic. Without major transport improvements, any airport expansion would likely make congestion worse.

This airport development represents the most significant infrastructure project to emerge from the post-Brexit arrangements, which have fundamentally altered the relationship between Gibraltar and Spain.