The project seeks to substantially change the role of Zaragoza Airport, which currently has 12 regular routes to six countries and is expected to handle a total of 3,914 flights and 648,487 passengers in 2026. If all the lots are awarded and operated, the offering would reach 33 routes and 15 countries, with 8,788 flights and 1,619,282 seats, and an estimated 1,376,390 passengers annually. The expansion includes 20 new strategic connections, including Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Krakow, Sofia, Manchester, Porto, Tangier and destinations in Switzerland, as well as the revival of connections such as Paris, Dusseldorf and Venice.
Aragon President Jorge Azcón highlighted the institutional nature of the operation and the collaboration between the two administrations. "This project was born out of collaboration between the Government of Aragon and Zaragoza City Council. Two administrations have understood that major decisions affecting Zaragoza's competitiveness require joint efforts," he said. Azcón also argued that "the internationalization of Aragon is not limited to our exports. It also concerns our ability to attract people, knowledge, investment and opportunities."
ANNUAL BONUS OF €375,000 FOR THE FIRST AIRLINE TO ESTABLISH A BASE IN ZARAGOZA
For her part, Zaragoza Mayor Natalia Chueca placed the municipal investment within the framework of the new five-year agreement, which involves a total City Council investment of €20.5 million in the city's tourism and institutional promotion, the largest municipal financial commitment of its kind to date. "Today is a strategic day for Zaragoza. When we talk about transport infrastructure and air connectivity, we are not talking only about planes or airports: we are talking about the ambition of a major capital that needed a network matching its economic, tourism and social importance," she said. Chueca added that "connectivity is competitiveness" and that Zaragoza is "ready to fly higher than ever."
The operation also includes an annual bonus of €375,000 for the first airline to establish a permanent aircraft base in Zaragoza. PAA forecasts a net social benefit of close to €88 million annually, compared with the project's €8.79 million cost. The Government of Aragon and the City Council thus defend an investment aimed not only at attracting tourists, but also at facilitating travel for Aragon's residents — more than 92,000 a year have to travel to Madrid or Barcelona to catch a flight — and strengthening the attraction of companies, conferences and investment. The tender documents are expected to be published next week, the contract awarded in November and operations to begin on March 28, 2027.
