Date Presented:

Abstract:

The current European airport framework presents socio-environmental and territorial conflicts that are difficult to resolve. There is a need for the development of airport infrastructure; but such development can damage the environment and the interests of nearby inhabitants. The technical features of airport infrastructures are not the only elements relevant to increasing air-traffic volume. Enlarging airport capacity will also depend, in the short term, on management of the environmental impact on surrounding areas. This paper deals with the decision-making process involved in airport-planning based on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) model in Catalonia’s airports. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the particular socio-environmental conflict that has taken place in the Municipalities of Gavà and Castelldefels since of the new third runway and the new South Terminal (still under construction) came into operation at Barcelona Airport. Objection to the acoustic pollution caused by aircraft landing and taking off on the third runway forced the airport authority to limit the capacity of the airport. This conflict has been partially resolved through certain work within the airport platform and through important changes to the Traffic Management Advisor. This conflict re-opened the debate concerning the suitability of a planned fourth runway, to be located over the sea, which would not only provide greater airport capacity but would also avoid noise disruption. While this option seems preferable to the political and entrepreneurial groups, others believe it would be more reasonable to solve the issue of airport capacity by extending the two secondary airports in Catalonia. Keywords: Socio-environmental conflicts, airport capacity, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Barcelona Airport, Catalan Airport System, airport development.

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