Thousands of people took to the streets of Ibiza Town on Sunday, September 20, to protest against Aena's planned remodelling of Ibiza Airport and to call for greater limits on tourism growth.

The demonstration was organised by the Associació de Joves d’Eivissa and supported by around 50 organisations, including environmental groups, trade unions, neighbourhood associations and other civic organisations.

March Begins in Vara de Rey

The demonstration began shortly after 18:00 at Passeig de Vara de Rey.

Participants then walked through central Ibiza along streets including Carrer d'Aragó and Avenida de España before continuing towards Parque Reina Sofía.

The event combined opposition to the airport project with wider concerns about the island's tourism model and the pressure placed on housing, water resources, public services and infrastructure.

Attendance Estimates Differ

There was no single agreed figure for the number of people who attended.

The Policía Nacional was reported to have estimated around 4,500 participants, while the Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands put the figure at approximately 5,000.

Organisers estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 participants, while EFE reported a figure of around 2,500.

The different estimates mean that the most consistent description is that thousands of people attended the demonstration.

Manifesto Read at Parque Reina Sofía

At the end of the march, representatives of the Associació de Joves d’Eivissa read a joint manifesto supported by around 50 organisations.

The document criticised the planned airport works and argued that Ibiza should have greater control over decisions affecting its territory and tourism model.

The organisers said they were not calling for Ibiza to stop receiving visitors, but for a different approach to tourism and connectivity that they believe would place greater emphasis on residents and the island's resources.

Concerns About Tourism Growth

The organisations supporting the demonstration said Ibiza is already experiencing pressure linked to tourism, particularly in relation to housing, water availability, transport and public services.

They argued that a larger and more modern airport could contribute to further growth in visitor numbers.

Those statements represent the position of the groups involved in the protest and are not an established assessment of the project's future effect on tourism demand.

What Aena Is Actually Planning

Aena's official description of the project is a remodelling of the airport terminal.

The company says the works are necessary to adapt the airport to new European security and border-control requirements, improve operational processes and address passenger-flow problems.

The project includes a new centralised passport-control system, separate Schengen and non-Schengen passenger areas and upgraded security-screening equipment.

Boarding Gates Will Increase From 17 to 32

One of the most visible changes is the planned increase in boarding gates.

The current terminal has 17 gates, while the remodelling will provide 32.

Aena says the additional gates are needed partly because Schengen and non-Schengen passenger flows must be handled separately under the newer border-control requirements.

The project also includes eight new boarding bridges.

Aena says those bridges could increase the share of high-season operations using direct boarding access from around 25% to approximately 75%.

Aena Says Hourly Airfield Capacity Will Not Increase

A central point in the debate is whether the remodelling amounts to an increase in airport capacity.

Aena says the planned works will not 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.

The company therefore presents the project as a terminal remodelling rather than an expansion of runway or airfield capacity.

Opposing organisations argue that improved terminal infrastructure could nevertheless facilitate tourism growth. That is a prediction advanced by the campaign groups rather than a confirmed future consequence.

DORA III Has Now Been Approved

The protest took place just days after Spain's Council of Ministers approved the Documento de Regulación Aeroportuaria 2027-2031, known as DORA III, on September 15.

The agreement was published in the Official State Gazette on September 19 and will apply from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2031.

The approved document lists an Ibiza project described as the adaptation of the terminal building to new regulations, with an investment threshold of €38.7 million and a scheduled completion date of December 2035.

Project Development Is Already Underway

Aena has already moved beyond the initial announcement stage.

In June, it put out to tender a €16.24 million project-management contract covering the planning, tendering, construction and commissioning stages of the airport remodelling programme.

The tender documents show that the project is progressing through its technical and administrative stages, although the main remodelling works are not yet complete.

Protesters Call for More Local Participation

Another major theme of Sunday's demonstration was the role of Ibiza's institutions and residents in decisions affecting the airport.

The organisations backing the march called for greater participation in decisions on connectivity and tourism policy and argued that local concerns should have greater weight in future infrastructure decisions.

Their position comes amid a wider debate across the Balearic Islands over the future scale of tourism and airport infrastructure.

Different Positions on the Same Project

The dispute involves two distinct interpretations of what the airport works mean.

The organisations behind the protest see the increase in boarding gates and other terminal improvements as infrastructure that could support further tourism growth.

Aena says the changes are primarily intended to adapt the airport to European regulations, improve safety and passenger flows, and modernise the terminal, while maintaining the current hourly airfield capacity.

Both points are relevant to understanding the current debate.

The Airport's Role in Ibiza

Ibiza Airport is the island's principal air connection and is used by both visitors and residents.

Aena has described the infrastructure as essential to the island's connectivity and economic and social activity. The company says the remodelling is intended to improve the experience and operational efficiency of the existing airport.

The protesters, meanwhile, argue that airport infrastructure cannot be considered separately from the wider question of how much tourism Ibiza can accommodate.

Wider Concerns Beyond the Airport

The September 20 demonstration was not limited to the terminal project itself.

The manifesto also connected the airport debate with housing difficulties, resource constraints and the wider effects of tourism growth.

The organisers called for a more balanced approach to tourism and argued that future decisions should take into account the island's physical limits and the needs of its resident population.

What Happens Next

The airport remodelling remains a long-term infrastructure project.

DORA III formally covers the 2027-2031 regulatory period, while the Ibiza terminal adaptation listed in the document has a scheduled completion date in December 2035. Aena has also begun preparatory procurement and project-management work.

For the protest organisers, Sunday's demonstration was intended to increase public pressure for a different approach to tourism and connectivity.

For Aena, the project remains focused on modernising the airport and meeting regulatory and operational requirements without increasing hourly airfield capacity.

Ibiza Airport Debate Continues

The September 20 demonstration brought thousands of people into the streets of Ibiza Town and placed the airport project at the centre of a broader discussion about the island's future.

The disagreement is not simply about the design of the terminal. It also concerns tourism, housing, resources, infrastructure and the role of local participation in major decisions affecting Ibiza.

As the airport project continues through its development stages, those questions are likely to remain part of the public debate.