Castellón airport breaks its annual operations record in spite of the pandemic
![[Img #81038]](http://el7set.es/upload/images/01_2021/5429_9968_aeropuerto_.jpg)
Castellón airport has ended 2020 with the greatest register of operations since it opened to traffic, in spite of the serious crisis in the aviation sector associated with the coronavirus pandemic. There have also been new investments and expansion areas to allow the diversification strategy to progress.
The councillor for Public Works, Arcadi España, held a meeting with the general manager of Aerocas, Blanca Marín, to discuss the outcome of the 2020 financial year.
The councillor’s assessment was that “in an enormously difficult context for the aviation sector, with a general collapse in activity, Castellón airport has been able to break its record for aircraft movements”. Specifically, 7,750 operations were registered, a 19% increase over 2019, when there were 6,515. The increase is linked to the activity of the flying schools which operate in the airport and to the diversification strategy.
Regarding passengers, 40,275 were counted. In spite of the fact that during the greater part of the year the reduction was less in percentage terms than the average at Spanish airports, with a 68% drop. A situation driven by the pandemic problem on air traffic, which motivated the interruption of the regular routes which Castellón airport operates.
Arcadi España stressed the “ability which the airport has had to adapt to the COVID-19 scenario, responding to the demand in the air sector and generating investment, activity and employment”. With the fall in commercial traffic, she added, “the airport has accelerated its process of integral development, by boosting the portfolio of services establishing solid bases for its growth”.
The installation has received numerous aircraft which have temporarily stopped operating and which require space to park and for maintenance. The dismantling activity has also accelerated. Also, with private initiative, several areas have been boosted for development and investments such as the new aircraft parking area, the aircraft maintenance centre and the industrial platform. Actions which amount to about three million euros of investment, between the public and private input.
Arcadi España stated her satisfaction with the businesses’ trust in the infrastructure, “this is shown by them investing in its development in such a complex situation”.
The councillor also brought up that the Valencian Generalitat’s Recuperation Strategy had included the development of the Complementary Activities Area (ZAC) of the airport as a strategic project, where it is planned to create a business centre for the aeronautics and logistics sectors.
National Routes
On the other hand, in spite of the adverse scene, opportunities have arisen related to commercial traffic. Due to the pandemic, the route planned to Marseilles had to be substituted by one to Bilbao, which has operated positively. From this arose the decision to renew it for two more years, agreed by consensus with the tourist businesses.
The airport has also promoted a new national route with the prediction that the reactivation of tourism will be linked to the domestic markets. The councillor pointed out the aim of the airport to reactivate the regular routes from the end of March, incorporating a new national connection with one of the following destinations: Andalucía, Galicia, Asturias and Castilla-León.
Castellón airport has ended 2020 with the greatest register of operations since it opened to traffic, in spite of the serious crisis in the aviation sector associated with the coronavirus pandemic. There have also been new investments and expansion areas to allow the diversification strategy to progress.
The councillor for Public Works, Arcadi España, held a meeting with the general manager of Aerocas, Blanca Marín, to discuss the outcome of the 2020 financial year.
The councillor’s assessment was that “in an enormously difficult context for the aviation sector, with a general collapse in activity, Castellón airport has been able to break its record for aircraft movements”. Specifically, 7,750 operations were registered, a 19% increase over 2019, when there were 6,515. The increase is linked to the activity of the flying schools which operate in the airport and to the diversification strategy.
Regarding passengers, 40,275 were counted. In spite of the fact that during the greater part of the year the reduction was less in percentage terms than the average at Spanish airports, with a 68% drop. A situation driven by the pandemic problem on air traffic, which motivated the interruption of the regular routes which Castellón airport operates.
Arcadi España stressed the “ability which the airport has had to adapt to the COVID-19 scenario, responding to the demand in the air sector and generating investment, activity and employment”. With the fall in commercial traffic, she added, “the airport has accelerated its process of integral development, by boosting the portfolio of services establishing solid bases for its growth”.
The installation has received numerous aircraft which have temporarily stopped operating and which require space to park and for maintenance. The dismantling activity has also accelerated. Also, with private initiative, several areas have been boosted for development and investments such as the new aircraft parking area, the aircraft maintenance centre and the industrial platform. Actions which amount to about three million euros of investment, between the public and private input.
Arcadi España stated her satisfaction with the businesses’ trust in the infrastructure, “this is shown by them investing in its development in such a complex situation”.
The councillor also brought up that the Valencian Generalitat’s Recuperation Strategy had included the development of the Complementary Activities Area (ZAC) of the airport as a strategic project, where it is planned to create a business centre for the aeronautics and logistics sectors.
National Routes
On the other hand, in spite of the adverse scene, opportunities have arisen related to commercial traffic. Due to the pandemic, the route planned to Marseilles had to be substituted by one to Bilbao, which has operated positively. From this arose the decision to renew it for two more years, agreed by consensus with the tourist businesses.
The airport has also promoted a new national route with the prediction that the reactivation of tourism will be linked to the domestic markets. The councillor pointed out the aim of the airport to reactivate the regular routes from the end of March, incorporating a new national connection with one of the following destinations: Andalucía, Galicia, Asturias and Castilla-León.
