CCOO has warned that the proposed co-management of the Balearic Islands' airports could increase operating costs, leading to higher airport charges and potentially more expensive flights for residents.

The warning comes after the central government withdrew its veto on a legislative proposal that would allow greater participation by the Balearic institutions in airport management.

Union Raises Cost Concerns

Ramon Enric Carreras, CCOO's representative for the Aena airport group in the Balearics, argues that the current airport system benefits from Aena's scale and financial structure.

Aena's activities are financed largely through airport charges and income generated by commercial and economic activity at its facilities.

According to Carreras, fragmenting the current management model could increase operating costs and ultimately put upward pressure on airport charges.

The union therefore fears that residents could be among those who feel the effect through higher airfares.

Would Co-Management Reduce Flights?

CCOO is also challenging one of the main arguments behind greater regional involvement: the possibility of using airport management to control tourism pressure by limiting flights.

Carreras argues that regional participation would not automatically provide direct control over the number of flights or the allocation of airport slots.

The allocation of slots is governed by European regulations and, in Spain, is coordinated through the national airport-slot coordination system.

As a result, CCOO says that changing who participates in airport management would not itself provide the power to simply reduce the number of flights operating to the islands.

Ibiza and Menorca Offer a Comparison

The union is also rejecting the idea that Aena's management is responsible for differences in tourism pressure between the Balearic islands.

Carreras points to Ibiza and Menorca as an example.

Although both airports are operated under the same Aena management structure, Ibiza recorded around 9.1 million passengers in 2025, compared with approximately 4.2 million in Menorca.

CCOO argues that the difference is better explained by the two islands' distinct economic and territorial models rather than by airport management.

A Question of Tourism Policy

From the union's perspective, measures designed to control tourism pressure should therefore focus on wider territorial and economic policies.

Carreras argues that decisions made at regional and island level have a much greater influence over tourism development than the organisational structure governing airport management.

This puts CCOO at odds with supporters of the co-management proposal, who argue that giving the Balearic Islands a greater role could provide more tools to manage connectivity and tourism growth.

The Bill Can Now Be Debated

The issue has gained momentum after the Spanish government withdrew its previous veto, allowing the proposal promoted by the Balearic Parliament to move forward for debate in Congress.

The initiative would establish a coordination framework giving Balearic institutions greater participation in decisions concerning the islands' airports.

The proposal now enters the parliamentary process, where its precise powers and eventual form will be debated.

A Key Issue for Ibiza

The discussion has particular relevance for Ibiza, where airport traffic has continued to reach extremely high levels during the tourism season.

The island handled approximately 9.1 million passengers in 2025, significantly above Menorca despite both airports operating under the same management model.

For CCOO, the figures demonstrate that airport ownership or management alone cannot explain the scale of tourism pressure on an island.

The union's warning is that changing the management structure could create additional costs without necessarily providing the ability to control flight numbers.

The Debate Continues

The proposed co-management model is now heading into a wider political debate over who should have greater influence over the Balearic airports and how their future should be managed.

For supporters, greater regional participation could give the islands more influence over connectivity and tourism policy.

For CCOO, the risks include higher operating costs, increased airport charges and potentially more expensive tickets for residents, while the ability to reduce flights would remain limited by European and national slot regulations.

With the proposal now set to be debated in Congress, the future management of Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca airports is becoming an increasingly important part of the wider discussion over connectivity, tourism and the cost of living in the Balearic Islands.