News Archive from Andalucia & Costa del Sol
In association with
Week July 5th to 13th July 2001
MÁLAGA AIRPORT PROTEST
The decision by AENA is unacceptable to the area's controllers, as Malaga's Pablo Picasso Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Spain, behind only Madrid, Barcelona and Palma de Majorca.
Due to the volume of both passengers and flight traffic, Málaga Airport is presently enlarging its facilities as well as plan to build a second runway. For the Málaga air traffic controllers it makes no sense to reduce their operative workload in the face of the planned extension programme.
If AENA insists on the approach control being transferred to Seville, Málaga air traffic controllers´ response would be to call a go- slow during the month of August. The air controller's move, coupled with the Iberia pilots strike, could result in chaos. If controllers carry out only their stipulated workload and do not undertake the extra hours needed to cover the influx of tourism expected in August, the Costa del Sol would see its summer season's trade suffer considerably. In other words, the 9,105 traffic movements expected during August would be reduced to 2. 275.