With just three days remaining before a demonstration against the planned remodelling of Ibiza Airport, the Consell de Ibiza has called for existing problems at the airport to be addressed before moving ahead with a project of this scale.

Juanmi Costa, the Consell's director of Tourism, said the institution understands the concerns behind Sunday's demonstration and argued that Aena should provide more detailed explanations about the project and seek greater consensus on its future.

The demonstration is scheduled for Sunday, September 20, and has been organised by the Associació de Joves d'Eivissa. Several environmental, civic and trade union organisations have expressed support for the protest.

Consell Calls for Existing Problems to Be Addressed

Costa said the condition of some existing airport facilities should be dealt with before focusing on further development.

Among the issues he highlighted were problems with toilets, the airport's wastewater treatment system and access and parking arrangements.

He argued that the airport should first be brought up to the required standard and that the passenger experience should be improved before a project of such significant scale is carried out. 

More Information Requested From Aena

Costa also said he believes Aena needs to explain the project in greater detail.

In particular, he referred to concerns surrounding the airport's parking area and access roads, which he described as problematic, and called for more information about what the planned works would involve.

The comments come after Aena held meetings with the Consell and other representatives on the project in July.

According to Aena, the meeting was intended to provide further details and answer questions about the planned remodelling. 

Aena Describes the Project as a Modernisation

Aena's official description differs from the terminology used by some of the project's opponents.

The airport operator describes the planned works as a remodelling programme intended to adapt Ibiza Airport to new European security requirements, improve operational processes and enhance passenger facilities.

The plans include a centralised passport-control area, separate Schengen and non-Schengen passenger flows, a new pier for non-Schengen passengers and a reorganisation of the boarding area.

The number of boarding gates is planned to increase to 32, while eight new boarding bridges are also included in the project. 

Aena Says Hourly Aircraft Capacity Will Not Increase

One of the most important points in the ongoing debate is the distinction between terminal capacity and the airport's airfield capacity.

Aena says none of the planned works will increase the number of take-offs and landings that Ibiza Airport can handle per hour because the capacity of the airfield itself is not being increased. 

At the same time, opponents of the project have argued that the larger and reorganised terminal could facilitate greater passenger volumes in the future.

That distinction is central to the current debate and should not be presented as settled fact in either direction.

Concerns About Tourism Growth

Costa also linked the airport discussion to the wider question of tourism and population growth on Ibiza.

He defended the Consell's policies aimed at controlling visitor pressure, including measures concerning vehicles and illegal tourist accommodation.

He also pointed to the substantial increase in Ibiza's resident population over the past 25 years and argued that the island needs to consider the long-term sustainability of that growth. These are statements from the Consell's tourism director rather than an independent assessment of Ibiza's carrying capacity. 

Wider Political Debate Over the Airport

The airport project has become the subject of debate among local, regional and national political representatives as well as environmental and civic organisations.

Consell president Vicent Marí has previously said that the island needs investment to modernise and improve airport safety and facilities, while opposing what he describes as an excessive expansion.

He has also called for the island's institutions and wider society to have greater involvement before the project is finalised. 

Demonstration Planned for September 20

The latest comments come three days before the planned demonstration in Ibiza Town on Sunday, September 20.

The protest has been called specifically in opposition to the airport project, with organisers saying they do not want the airport to be expanded.

Environmental organisations and other civic groups have supported the mobilisation, while CCOO has also joined the list of organisations backing the demonstration. 

The protest therefore takes place against a backdrop of disagreement over both the scale of the airport project and the island's future tourism model.

Project Planned From 2030

Aena says execution of the airport remodelling is planned to begin from 2030.

The operator says the objective is to bring the infrastructure into line with European requirements while improving operational efficiency, safety and passenger experience.

The project has been valued at approximately €229.7 million in the procurement process. 

A Debate That Goes Beyond the Airport

The discussion is increasingly broader than the physical works themselves.

For the Consell and other critics, the central questions include the future scale of tourism, environmental pressure, infrastructure and the island's ability to manage further growth.

For Aena, the project is primarily a major modernisation of an existing airport to meet regulatory requirements and improve how it operates.

With the September 20 demonstration approaching, the question of how the project should proceed, and how much local consensus should be required, remains an active subject of debate on Ibiza.