A growing dispute over the future of Ibiza Airport could jeopardise investment intended to modernise its terminal, according to José Antonio Roselló Rausell, vice-president of the Confederation of Business Associations of the Balearic Islands (CAEB). He argues that the debate over tourism growth risks overshadowing the operational reasons for the planned works, while criticising Aena for failing to explain its proposals clearly enough.

Roselló's comments come amid continuing political and public opposition to aspects of the airport's planned redevelopment. The central disagreement is whether modernising and expanding terminal facilities would simply improve passenger processing or could also facilitate further tourism growth on an island already debating the limits of its visitor economy.

Business Leaders Warn Against Losing Modernisation Investment

Roselló believes the controversy could have unintended consequences if opposition to the airport plans results in investment being delayed, reduced or abandoned.

He argues that the proposed works should be assessed according to their stated operational purposes, rather than treating Aena as the body responsible for determining how many tourists visit Ibiza.

In his view, decisions about tourism policy and the volume of visitors involve wider economic and political choices. Aena manages airport infrastructure, but Roselló argues that it should not be made solely responsible for the island's tourism model.

He has also made clear that his position is not an unconditional endorsement of the airport operator. His concern, he says, is that opposition to the current plans could ultimately prevent improvements that he considers reasonable.

What the Airport Investment Plan Includes

The dispute intensified following approval of the third Airport Regulation Document, known as DORA III, covering the 2027 to 2031 regulatory period.

The official investment schedule lists €159.62 million in planned investment for Ibiza Airport over those five years. Within that total, €55.246 million is allocated to adapting the terminal building to new regulatory requirements.

Aena has separately outlined terminal works intended to accommodate updated European border-control requirements and improve passenger processing. Its plans include increasing the number of boarding gates to 32, installing eight additional boarding bridges, upgrading security screening and reorganising passenger areas.

The changes are intended to improve the airport's operations and accommodate the different requirements of Schengen and non-Schengen traffic. Aena says additional boarding gates are needed to handle these different flows, even where the overall level of traffic remains unchanged.

These are planned works, not a completed redevelopment. Aena announced in June 2026 that it had tendered a project-management contract to coordinate the various stages, from project preparation through procurement and construction to the opening of the new facilities.

Does a Larger Terminal Mean More Tourists?

This is one of the central questions dividing supporters and critics of the plans.

Roselló argues that additional terminal space does not automatically translate into more flights or tourists. He points to the distinction between the physical capacity of passenger facilities and the operational capacity of the airport's runways and airfield.

Aena has said the proposed terminal works will not increase the number of take-offs and landings per hour because the capacity of the airfield itself is not being expanded.

However, opponents remain concerned that a terminal able to process passengers more efficiently could facilitate further growth in visitor numbers over time. Their concerns form part of the wider debate about tourism pressure, environmental limits and housing affordability on Ibiza.

The distinction is important: improving passenger processing does not necessarily increase the number of aircraft movements, but the longer-term relationship between terminal infrastructure, airline demand and passenger traffic remains central to the public debate.

Roselló believes the discussion should be based on clear technical information and a careful examination of what the works will actually change.

Public Opposition Has Intensified

The airport plans have prompted political criticism and public demonstrations on Ibiza, with protesters demanding greater local participation in decisions about the island's infrastructure and tourism future.

Opponents fear that investment in a larger and more efficient terminal could reinforce the island's dependence on visitor growth. They argue that airport planning cannot be separated from the wider consequences of tourism for residents, infrastructure and the environment.

The Balearic Government has also called for the redevelopment to avoid increasing air capacity, arguing that investment should focus on passenger experience, accessibility and sustainability.

That position illustrates the challenge facing decision-makers: the airport must comply with changing requirements and maintain service standards, while regional and island authorities are pursuing policies intended to contain tourism pressure.

Roselló Criticises Aena's Communication

Beyond the question of investment, Roselló argues that Aena has not explained the plans adequately.

He believes clearer communication about the purpose, scope and expected effects of the works could have prevented some of the confusion surrounding the redevelopment.

For the CAEB vice-president, the failure to distinguish between terminal modernisation and decisions about tourism growth has contributed to a debate in which the airport operator has become the focus of wider frustration.

His criticism is not that residents should have no say in the airport's future. Rather, he argues that the discussion needs better information and a clearer distinction between infrastructure planning and the policies that determine tourism levels.

The Investment Figures Need Context

The financial scale of the airport plans also requires careful distinction between different published figures.

The approved DORA III investment schedule lists €159.62 million for Ibiza Airport across the 2027 to 2031 period, including €55.246 million for adapting the terminal to new regulatory requirements. Other figures reported in the wider debate may refer to a different scope of planned investment and should not automatically be treated as equivalent to the DORA schedule.

The official programme establishes the investment framework for the regulatory period, but individual projects still require planning, procurement and implementation. The full scope and timing of the redevelopment will therefore be important in assessing how the investment translates into actual changes at the airport.

A Debate With Consequences for Ibiza's Future

The disagreement over Ibiza Airport reflects a broader question facing the island: how to maintain essential infrastructure and meet regulatory requirements without undermining efforts to manage tourism pressure.

Roselló warns that the controversy could put valuable modernisation work at risk if the debate becomes detached from the operational needs of the airport. Critics, meanwhile, want stronger guarantees that infrastructure investment will not enable further growth in air traffic and visitor numbers.

The challenge for Aena and the relevant authorities is to explain precisely what the works will deliver, what they will not change, and how the plans fit with the island's wider tourism objectives.

For now, the debate remains unresolved. The outcome will depend not only on the investment programme itself, but also on the clarity of the technical information, the decisions taken by the authorities and the extent to which local concerns are addressed.