Málaga airport's 2nd runway to open on 26 June

Málaga airport - runway 2 on the left, next to the Guadalhorce river - and runway 1 on the right.

After nearly 5 years of planning, construction and certification processes, on Tuesday 26 June, the capital of the Costa del Sol will be joining the elite ranks of those Spanish cities whose airports boast more than one runway – currently Madrid Barajas has 4, Barcelona El Prat has 3, and Palma de Mallorca and Gran Canaria each have 2.

Once operational, runway 2 will virtually double Málaga airport’s current capacity from 37 take-offs and landings per hour to 72, with a maximum hourly passenger-handling capability of 9,500.

The first commercial landings at the new runway took place on 17 May when 44 aircraft touched down as part of a training and familiarisation programme for air traffic controllers and other airport staff, but according to Málaga’s daily newspaper Diario Sur, initially runway 2 will only be used during peak periods when runway 1 is already working flat out.

The inauguration will be presided over by minister of development Ana Pastor and the president of AENA (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea), José Manuel Vargas.