MINISTER CONFIRMS CLOSURE OF SAN JAVIER AIRPORT

News

Mark Nolan / 2011-11-18 17:05:31

Murcia San Javier

The Minister of Public Works, Antonio Sevilla, and Secretary of State for Transport, Isaías Táboas have this week signed the official agreement that effectively sees Murcia San Javier airport closed to commercial traffic.

All passenger flights will now be transferred to the new airport facility at Corvera, in the heart of a brand new development area where the likes of the new Paramount Theme park will open and already a range of hotels and tourists attractions are being built, in the hub of a new and easily accessible road network.

Despite Murcia San Javier having a new runway built only a few years ago and the redevelopment of the airport terminal buildings, an investment that cost some 60 million euro, the airport at San Javier will revert back to being one of military status under the Academia General del Aire.

The document signed between the two administrations commits both parties to promote and support the actions necessary for the "rationalization of civil traffic, while respecting the legitimate interests of Aena airports as current airport operator and its employees at the airport of Murcia San Javier ".

Both institutions have reached agreement on the importance of aviation and air transportation to economic development in the Region of Murcia, as well as to meet the connectivity needs of citizens and businesses, according to the Autonomous Community.

The Ministry of Development has been entrusted with the guardianship of the national airport authority, Aena Aeropuertos SA, who is responsible for the operation and management of airport services at airports managed by Aena, as well as civilian areas of airports which are open to civilian traffic.

The Murcia government has granted administrative concession to AEROMUR for the construction and operation of the International Airport of Murcia, which were commissioned and scheduled for completion in 2012.

The agreement made has been as a direct result of a dialogue that was opened some months ago into the viability of airport operations once the new facility is ready to open.

Meanwhile, as construction work is almost completed, the Spanish aviation safety agency, AESA, has issued notice that they will be starting inspections for the certification of Corvera airport, which will lead to the creation of a full plan and strategy of testing and licensing the airport for commercial operations.

Once the inspection period has been completed, which is expected to take a few months, it will pave the way for real flight testing to commence, as well as numerous simulations before finally being certified as a fully operational airport in the summer of 2012.

Comments

S A Kevorkian 27-03-2012 / 22:33

Just used San Javier for the first time, and it is halved the journey that Alicante Airport is to use In San Miguel. Was disapointed to hear that San Javier will close soon. It is a lovely airport, so quick and small. No walking for miles from the plan to get your luggage etc. Governments will never learn (Spanish and our own)! Hope that the new airport doesn't work, and that the carriers will revert/petition to re-open San Javier.

Un Neary 12-03-2012 / 14:00

I agree with every comment on here. I bought a place in Orihuela Costa and San Javier is only 15 mins away. Plus it is lovely airpor to fly in and out of - is nice and quiet and serves lots of local residents. It is a very sad day for me to hear that this lovely little airport is to close.
With Spain in such an economic crisis its left me speechless that they spent millions on improving San Javier only now to close it to the public. What a waste? Where is the petition? We all want to sign it? I cant find it either

Julia Hardcastle 08-03-2012 / 14:24

I totally agree with all the sentiments on this blog, it's a ridiculous waste of money to spend so much on upgrading San Javier just to close it down! We have a house in Los Alcazares and the new airport is probably an hour away - the same distance as Alicante, which means we will have to hire a car every time we come over whereas at the moment its a quick taxi ride from the airport. So many people will lose out all round - it's a stupid decision. I will go and sign the petition now.

Sandra Fuller, Rojales 21-02-2012 / 08:47

I fully support all the comments made so far. Living in Rojales I am lucky that I have the choice of both Alicante and San Javier airports. Unfortunately most of my family live on the Isle of Wight and use Southampton or Bournemouth Airports. It is much cheaper to fly from Bournemouth to San Javier, a matter of 40mins drive. I understand the new airport will add at least another 40 mins onto my journey making a round trip time of at last 2 and a half hours. The powers that be have made one heck of a mistake.

By the way can anyone tell me exactly what date all flights will be going to the new airport, as I cannot find this information anywhere.

david craig 27-01-2012 / 13:23

most visitors spend their time on the coast. so it therefore makes perfect commercial sense to close a coastal airport and open one in a less convenient place. i,like many others will simply use alicante.
the building of the new airport at covera is an example of spanish politics at its most cynical.

david williams 24-01-2012 / 13:10

Typical boom/bust scenario going on here. Murcia was hardly consideed by the Brits until they were priced out of the established costas. Everyone believed the Polaris hype and the TV/UK magazine led talking up of Murcia (along with Almeria.) Property dreams turn to nightmares and Spanish banks left holding loads of unsold/unsaleable properties. Airlines can see this coming a mile off and need no excuse to cancel flights to an airport. Joy of joys for them - this one is closing so cancelled flights/schedules are not their fault.

Philip Turner 28-12-2011 / 12:54

This is typical Spanish planning. They encourage us Brits to spend our hard earned cash on property with easy access to a local Airport, and then decide to close it.
Do they not realise how much money people have donated to the region because of St Xavier Airport.
I am disgusted with the decision, but not entirely surprised after all, we are in the middle of the worst economic crisis any one has ever seen, so why not spend 60 million euros on St Xavier, close it, pay 70 million euros in compensation and build a new airport which they cannot afford.
It could only happen in Spain.

Liz Beresford-Brown 28-11-2011 / 13:53

I am shocked that after a recent investment of 60 million Euro's and continued expansion and improvement to San Javier Airport, the Authorities have chosen to close it to commercial flights. I have been using this airport for twenty two years, from when it was no more than a shed on concrete. This cannot be a viable commercial decision, many business's will count the cost of this appalling decision.Where is the petition against this, come on people let us show the authoriities that we care.

Barbara Holland 23-11-2011 / 21:42

I never believed this would ever happen. Recently BMI Baby have stopped all flights from Cardiff, transferring their planes to Belfast! I have to travel to Gatwick Airport to fly by Easyjet to San Javier Airport at least 5 times per year (having done so for the last 8 years)and the National Express coaches in UK have now stopped concessionary coach fares (demanded by the English Government) and now San Javier Airport is proposing to close. I just wonder what will happen next.

loopylandlord 22-11-2011 / 19:44

What an absolute tragedy. What are the Spanish authorities thinking about closing such a crackin little airport. And what about all the shops & restaurants which rely on the people flying in. I for one will miss my first port of call after flying in is to head for a lovely restaurant in Los Narjos

Whats wrong with keeping St Javier going especially for those local poeple in a 40km radius who bought because of the ease of access

Another disapointed St Javier user

Whats the website called that the St Javier airport petition is on

Dave Lawrie 22-11-2011 / 11:59

Murcia Province has operated in the typical "Spanish Way" by not planning in advance. Most of the traffic (and Airlines) using San Javier are non-Spanish and serve people and places in the San Javier area right through to Torrevieja. The queues for Car Hire (because of the lack of public transport) shows how much revenue will be lost when the airport closes. The new airport is almost at Fuente Alamo and will not be any use for the majority of passengers using San Javier now. All these passengers, especially in the Orihuela and Torrevieja areas will go to Alicante Airport. The Airlines will not operate to an airport where the passengers will not use because of the many extra kilometres and cost involved. This revenue will never come back to Murcia. As usual, it´s a case of looking after the minority rather than the majority. People do not fly to Theme Parks, they fly to destinations for many other reasons. When will the Spanish wake up to this!

Anne Brandt Dias 22-11-2011 / 09:38

Am really surprised and disappointed if San Xavier airport is shut to commercial traffic. Fortunately, we are between two airports so it doesn't matter too much but I can well understand families who have bought houses near by are not amused by such an action. Why were changes made to San Xavier if they were going to close it to commercial traffic? With Spain's unemployment being the highest in Europe, the country cannot afford such poor judgement and decisions and unnecessary spending of 60M€! I hope that the new PM Mariano Rajoy will prove effective and reverse this decision. Where on earth is Corvera??

Moira Fairbrace 21-11-2011 / 16:26

The outgoing Government made sure this was a signed deal. The Spanish have spent 60milE on San Javier then close it? Do they not realise so many people have bought properties in the area because of the location of this airport. There is a petition on FB to keep this airport going. Please join and support.

Colin T. Holloway 21-11-2011 / 09:19

I think this is an absolute tradedy to close San Javier. It serves thousands of people living on the Orihuea Costa twenty minutes down the road. Corvera is said to be expecting three million passengers a year probably most going to the new Paramount Theme Park. Surely there must be business to support both airports. The money spent on San Javier with its second runway never used will leave many people very disappointed having bought properties along the coast. It's begars believe that all this work had done only to close it.
Will we ever understand Spanish thinking! No wonder the country finds itself in the state it is.
A disappointed constant San Javier user.