SPAIN is exploring plans to build its own passenger terminal at Gibraltar airport as part of ambitious proposals to create a cross-border transport hub serving more than 120,000 residents.

The radical scheme would see La Línea, the Spanish border town, construct terminal facilities on Spanish soil to complement Gibraltar’s existing airport infrastructure following the post-Brexit agreement that will effectively eliminate the physical frontier.

According to a memorandum drafted by the La Linea city hall this month, the disappearance of border controls between Gibraltar and Spain has created an opportunity for the airport to operate as a single, integrated facility serving both territories.

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The proposed Spanish terminal would enable commercial air routes to operate directly to Spanish territory, dramatically improving connectivity for the region whilst potentially boosting La Línea’s economy through airport-related activities and services.

The development could fundamentally alter the airport’s dynamics, with the Spanish terminal likely to become the dominant gateway given that most passengers would be travelling onwards to Spain rather than remaining in Gibraltar’s small territory.

Officials in La Línea are now reviewing their urban development plans to assess whether land should be reserved for the hypothetical terminal, which would feature shared border controls and enhanced passenger facilities.

The airport expansion is part of a broader vision to transform La Línea into what planners describe as a a ‘strategic transport and commercial hub’, including itself with Gibraltar in a cross-border urban area that would function as a single conurbation despite spanning two jurisdictions.

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Under the new post-Brexit arrangements, Gibraltar will be de facto integrated into the Schengen Area, with border controls shifting from the land frontier to the port and airport. 

This has created what officials describe as the need for ‘coordinated planning’ between the two territories.

The memorandum suggests the expanded airport could anchor a proposed Cross-Border Innovation Park featuring technology clusters designed to attract international companies to the area.

However, the ambitious plans face significant infrastructure challenges. 

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The existing A-7 motorway is already overloaded with traffic, and airport expansion would likely worsen congestion without major transport improvements.

Planners are redoubling their calls for La Linea to be given a stop in the proposed new Nerja to Algeciras Costa del Sol train line, while express bus services will need to be coordinated with flight schedules to manage the anticipated increase in passenger and freight traffic.

The proposals also include a new funding mechanism that would allow La Línea to receive direct income from shared airport operations with Gibraltar, helping finance municipal services in the Spanish town.

The airport development represents the most significant infrastructure project to emerge from the post-Brexit arrangements, which have fundamentally altered the relationship between Gibraltar and its Spanish neighbour.

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La Línea is pressing ahead with a major road expansion project as the border town prepares for an expected economic boom from the long-awaited Gibraltar deal.

The town hall has launched compulsory purchase procedures for 64 properties to make way for a new access road linking the A-383 motorway to the Zabal industrial estate. 

The €1.58 million project will see a bypass built around the back of the Municipal Cemetery, designed to unlock the area’s industrial potential.

Mayor Juan Franco’s administration has already ring-fenced the full amount needed for compensation payments and is targeting completion of all expropriations within six months. 

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The aggressive timeline would see agreements signed and land ready for handover to the Andalucian regional government by the end of the year.

The infrastructure push comes as La Línea positions itself to capitalise on the anticipated Gibraltar framework agreement, which is expected to dramatically increase cross-border trade and movement. 

The new road will relieve pressure on the cemetery road whilst opening up the Zabal industrial zone for development.

Property owners affected by the compulsory purchases can inspect the full documentation at the town planning department during office hours over the next month. 

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The plans, published on the municipal notice board, include detailed maps of affected properties and compensation arrangements.

The road project is part of La Línea’s strategy to modernise its infrastructure ahead of what local officials believe will be transformational changes to the town following the Gibraltar post-Brexit deal. 

With a long-awaited deal finally in place, the town is betting that improved access routes will be crucial to handling increased economic activity.

The Zabal industrial estate has long been identified as having significant development potential, but poor transport links have hampered growth. 

The new bypass is designed to solve this bottleneck by providing direct motorway access whilst keeping heavy traffic away from residential areas.

Local authorities are confident the six-month expropriation timeline is achievable, despite the complexity of acquiring dozens of private properties. 

The project’s success will depend on smooth negotiations with landowners and swift processing by regional planning authorities.

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