Thousands of people took to the streets of Ibiza on Sunday, September 20, to protest against the planned remodelling of Ibiza Airport and what organisers describe as continued growth in tourism and air traffic on the island.

The demonstration was called by the Associació de Joves d’Eivissa and supported by around 50 organisations. It began at Passeig de Vara de Rey and continued through Ibiza Town before reaching Reina Sofía Park, where a manifesto was read.

Attendance estimated in the thousands

The exact number of participants is disputed.

The Government Delegation estimated attendance at around 5,000 people, while other on-the-ground estimates put the figure closer to 2,500.

The march brought together residents, environmental groups, neighbourhood organisations, cultural associations and trade unions, alongside people carrying banners and calling for greater limits on tourism growth.

What protesters are opposing

The central focus of the demonstration was Aena's planned transformation of Ibiza Airport.

Organisers argue that expanding the terminal's facilities could encourage further growth in visitor numbers and air traffic, adding to pressures on housing, infrastructure, water resources and the island's environment.

Their wider demands include greater control over tourism growth and stronger consideration of Ibiza's territorial and environmental limits when airport planning decisions are made.

What Aena is actually planning

Aena describes the project as a comprehensive remodelling of the airport rather than an increase in runway capacity.

One of the most visible changes will be the increase in boarding gates from the current 17 to 32.

The project also includes eight new boarding bridges, a new boarding pier for non-Schengen passengers, a centralised passport control area and improvements to security and passenger facilities.

The terminal will gain additional space for services including toilets, rest areas, children's facilities, assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, commercial areas and a larger VIP lounge.

No increase in hourly take-offs and landings

One of the most important points in the debate is the distinction between terminal capacity and runway capacity.

Aena states that the planned works will not increase the number of take-offs and landings that Ibiza Airport can handle per hour because there is no increase in the capacity of the flight field.

The additional boarding gates are therefore not equivalent to doubling the number of aircraft movements the airport can handle each hour.

Aena says the project is intended to modernise the terminal, meet new European security requirements and improve passenger flows and operational efficiency.

The €229.7 million investment

The airport project is linked to Spain's DORA III airport regulation programme for 2027-2031.

The approved programme allocates €229.7 million to Ibiza Airport during the five-year period.

Aena's traffic scenario for the end of the DORA III period puts Ibiza Airport at approximately 9.7 million passengers in 2031.

That figure is a forecast, not a guaranteed number of future passengers.

Why the debate continues

The disagreement is largely about what the terminal transformation could mean for the island in the longer term.

Supporters of the project point to modernisation, European security requirements, passenger comfort and improvements to airport operations.

Those opposing the plans argue that Ibiza already experiences significant seasonal pressure and that improving airport infrastructure could facilitate further tourism growth.

The two positions therefore focus on different questions: what the airport needs to operate efficiently today and what level of future tourism and air traffic Ibiza should accommodate.

A major debate for Ibiza

The September 20 demonstration has placed the airport project firmly at the centre of Ibiza's wider discussion about tourism, mobility and the island's long-term development.

The planned works represent a substantial transformation of the terminal, including almost twice as many boarding gates and new passenger facilities.

At the same time, Aena maintains that the project does not increase the hourly capacity of the airport's runways.

As the planning process continues, the distinction between modernising the terminal and increasing actual aircraft movement capacity will remain central to the debate.