Air City Finalises its Purchase of the Casarrubios Aerodrome, which will Compete with Barajas

10 March 2019 – Voz Pópuli

Air City Madrid, the company constituted by several Spanish businessmen linked to the aviation sector, is finalising the purchase of the Casarrubios-Álamo aerodrome in Madrid. This represents the first step in a project whose aim is to create the largest private airport in the Spanish capital, which would compete directly with Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas.

According to sources, the Elduayen family, which currently owns the aerodrome is expected to sell the asset to Air City Madrid within the next few weeks. Air City Madrid is owned by European Flyer, a company dedicated to training pilots; the consultancy firm Gamt; and the consultancy firm Pasiphae.

The Casarrubios-Álamo aerodrome is located 30 km from the centre of Madrid, on the border of the Community of Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha. The company responsible for planning the new airport expects that a potential investment of around €2 billion will be required over 25 years to acquire the land, urbanise the site, build the access routes and construct a passenger terminal.

The businessmen behind the project are convinced that Madrid needs a new airport in light of the congestion that Barajas is expected to experience over the next decade. In the wider context, they point out that the airports in Cataluña serve 300 destinations, whilst those in Paris and London serve 600 and 800 destinations, respectively. By contrast, the current offer in Madrid stands at just 200.

Original story: Voz Pópuli (by Alberto Ortín & Marina Alías)

Translation: Carmel Drake