Around 5,000 people took to the streets of Ibiza Town on Sunday 20 September to protest against plans for the future remodelling of Ibiza Airport.

The attendance figure was provided by the Government Delegation and was also reported by RTVE, which described the demonstration as a major mobilisation on the island.

The demonstration brought together organisations and residents opposed to the airport project, with concerns including tourism growth, pressure on infrastructure, housing and the environmental impact of increasing visitor numbers.

Demonstration takes place in Ibiza Town

The protest took place on Sunday evening in Ibiza Town.

Demonstrators carried banners and signs opposing the planned airport works and called for greater limits on tourism growth and airport activity.

Among the messages displayed during the demonstration was “Eivissa no es ven”, meaning “Ibiza is not for sale”.

The protest was organised in the context of wider demonstrations against airport expansion held on the same day in Palma and Barcelona.

What is planned for Ibiza Airport?

The project at Ibiza Airport is officially described by Aena as a remodelling of the terminal infrastructure.

Aena says the works are required in part to adapt the airport to new European security and border-control requirements and to improve passenger processing.

The project includes new security-control equipment, additional terminal space and changes to the way Schengen and non-Schengen passengers are handled.

One of the principal elements is a new pier dedicated to flights arriving from or departing to destinations outside the Schengen Area.

A centralised passport-control area is also planned.

Aena says flight capacity will not increase

A key point in the debate is the difference between expanding the terminal and increasing the airport's flight-field capacity.

Aena states that none of the planned works will increase the number of take-offs and landings that can currently take place per hour.

The company says the airport's flight-field capacity is not being increased and that the project is instead intended to modernise the terminal, improve passenger flows and meet regulatory requirements.

This means the airport project should not be described as a plan to double the number of flights Ibiza can handle.

The new non-Schengen pier

The project does include a substantial change to the passenger terminal.

Aena plans to create a new pier specifically for non-Schengen flights, allowing passengers travelling to and from countries outside the Schengen Area to be handled separately.

The change is linked to the European Entry/Exit System and the requirement to centralise passport-control processes.

Aena says the new arrangement is intended to improve operational efficiency and passenger experience.

€229.7 million allocated to Ibiza Airport

The approved Airport Regulation Document for 2027-2031 includes around €229.7 million in investment for Ibiza Airport.

The wider DORA programme was approved by the Spanish Government on 15 September 2026 and applies from 1 January 2027.

The investment forms part of a wider programme covering Aena's airport network in Spain.

The Spanish Government says the national DORA programme includes almost €13 billion in investment between 2027 and 2031.

Why protesters oppose the project

The organisations behind the Ibiza demonstration argue that expanding airport infrastructure could facilitate further growth in visitor numbers and increase pressure on the island.

They have linked their opposition to wider concerns about housing, traffic, environmental pressure and the island's ability to accommodate additional tourism.

The Association of Young People of Ibiza was among the groups expressing opposition to the airport plans and argued that the project could contribute to overcrowding and increased visitor pressure.

These are the protesters' arguments and should be distinguished from Aena's stated rationale for the project.

The Balearic Government has also raised concerns

The Balearic Government has previously asked Aena that the future remodelling of Ibiza Airport should not result in increased air capacity.

In July, the regional government said investment should focus on improving passenger experience, accessibility and sustainability rather than increasing the island's air capacity.

The Govern subsequently said it had formally told Aena that its proposed investments should not be linked to increases in passenger numbers.

The regional government has also criticised aspects of the airport expansion included in DORA III and called for the plans to be reconsidered.

Spain approves the new airport investment programme

The protest came just days after the Spanish Council of Ministers approved DORA 2027-2031.

The national programme covers Aena's regulated airport network and includes almost €13 billion in investment.

The Government says the programme is intended to modernise infrastructure, improve passenger services, strengthen security and ensure airports have appropriate capacity in response to demand.

The DORA document itself states that the capacity figures are reference values and that infrastructure requirements can change depending on actual demand and operational conditions.

A debate over Ibiza's future

The demonstration highlights a wider debate over how Ibiza should manage tourism and transport infrastructure.

Supporters of the airport investment argue that the infrastructure needs to be modernised and adapted to European regulations while improving the experience for passengers and residents.

Opponents argue that larger and more efficient airport infrastructure could make it easier for visitor numbers and tourism pressure to continue growing.

The two positions are not identical to the question of runway or flight-field capacity, which Aena says will not increase as a result of the current project.

A major mobilisation on the island

With around 5,000 participants according to the Government Delegation, Sunday's demonstration was one of the largest recent public protests in Ibiza.

The turnout reflects the strength of concern among sections of the island's population about airport development and the wider question of tourism growth.

The airport project itself is now part of the approved DORA 2027-2031 investment framework, while the debate over its impact on Ibiza is continuing.

For residents, businesses and authorities, the central question remains how to maintain the island's essential air connectivity while managing the pressures associated with tourism and infrastructure.