Esquerra Unida d’Eivissa i Formentera has announced its support for the demonstration planned in Ibiza Town on Sunday, September 20, opposing what protest organisers describe as an expansion of Ibiza Airport.

The political formation says it is joining the mobilisation organised by the Associació de Joves d’Eivissa (AJE) and is encouraging its supporters and members of the public to attend.

The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 6pm at s’Alamera, on the Passeig de Vara de Rey, before continuing through the centre of Ibiza Town and ending with the reading of a manifesto outside the Consell d’Eivissa.

Esquerra Unida Repeats Its Opposition

Esquerra Unida says it has repeatedly opposed Aena’s airport project and argues that Ibiza should move towards reducing tourism pressure rather than increasing airport capacity.

In its latest statement, the party says the planned works would significantly alter the terminal and increase the number of boarding gates, which it argues could facilitate additional passenger traffic during periods of peak demand.

The party describes the proposal as incompatible with what it considers the island’s current limits, citing concerns including housing, road congestion, public resources and environmental pressure. These assessments are the political position of Esquerra Unida rather than established findings of the airport project itself.

Aena Describes the Project as a Remodelling

Aena officially presents the planned works as a remodelling and modernisation of Ibiza Airport.

The company says the project is primarily intended to adapt the terminal to new European border-control requirements, including separating Schengen and non-Schengen passenger flows and introducing a centralised passport-control area.

The project also includes a new pier for non-Schengen passengers, a redesigned boarding area and improved facilities for passengers.

Why the Number of Gates Will Increase

One of the most disputed aspects of the project is the planned increase in boarding gates.

Aena says the number will rise from the current 17 to 32 because Schengen and non-Schengen gates can no longer be used flexibly for both types of traffic under the new border-control requirements.

The company has specifically said the additional gates are necessary even with the same level of passenger traffic, because the two types of flights require separate operational areas.

Aena also plans to install eight new boarding bridges. The company says these could increase the proportion of flights using direct boarding access from around 25 percent of peak-season operations to approximately 75 percent.

Esquerra Unida Links the Project to Tourism Pressure

Esquerra Unida argues that improvements to airport infrastructure cannot be considered separately from the island’s wider tourism model.

The party says that additional airport infrastructure could contribute to greater pressure on housing, roads, public services and natural resources, and argues that Ibiza should instead pursue policies aimed at containing tourism pressure.

The formation has also called for a reduction in airport capacity during the high season.

The Issue Has Reached Congress

The airport debate has already been raised at national level.

In June 2026, the Congreso de los Diputados published a proposal from the Plurinational Sumar parliamentary group calling for any airport reform that would increase capacity to be rejected and for the Ibiza airport planning framework to be reviewed.

The initiative also called for future airport planning to take account of territorial carrying capacity, environmental sustainability and social cohesion.

On June 25, the Comisión Mixta sobre Insularidad approved a modified motion calling on the Spanish Government to ensure that the Ibiza airport reforms under the 2027-2031 DORA framework do not aim to increase airport capacity. The motion also called for dialogue with local, island and regional administrations.

Balearic Government Has Also Raised Capacity Concerns

Esquerra Unida is not the only institution to have questioned the implications of the project.

In July, Balearic Tourism Minister Jaume Bauzà asked Aena to ensure that the future remodelling of Ibiza Airport does not result in growth in air capacity, arguing that investment should focus on passenger experience, accessibility and sustainability.

The Govern's position therefore differs from Aena's explanation of the project, particularly over the question of how the new infras