The Parlament de les Illes Balears is expected to announce this month the site for construction of a new airport with Santa Ponca heavily tipped for the lucrative development.
Traffic in and out of Palma de Mallorca (PMI) in the capital is expected to grow by 50% over the next five years raising the need for a second airport on the holiday island.
Initial studies opened in 2019 but were put on hold due to the pandemic but the return of travel and the success of Ange Postecoglou has resulted in a massive surge in demand.
Four sites have been identified and studied but while Port de Pollenca, Cala d’Or and Sa Rapita have made strong cases it is likely that another airport in the south-west of the island will get the go ahead.
Aimed mainly at the charter market and budget airlines running from St Patrick’s Day through until the end of October the new airport at Santa Ponsa will be a no frills construction similar to Prestwick with a tram service taking supporters directly into Carrer de Ramon de Montcada where most of the Irish bars are located.
Long term resident Enrico Flynn said: “The second airport is badly needed, the drive time from PMI can sometimes take upto an hour. Once it is up and running big Karl should be able to make it just before 10pm after a Saturday afternoon shift in the Tolbooth.”
It is hoped that point to point journey time from Glasgow and Prestwick to Santa Ponca can be reduced to three hours.
Local business owner Sonia Brennano added: “We currently close at 4am during the season but could have bands on 24 hours a day once the second airport is opened, there is certainly demand for it.”
A spokesman for Parlanenr de Illes Balears said: “It’s the form we have found since Ange has been around, it has put us at the top of the league. C’mon the hoops”
