Managers of the new Castellón Airport seem unable to provide a definite opening date which is leading to problems securing contracts with airlines to fly there for next summer.
While Reus and Manises are already offering special deals for next year’s holiday season, Costa Azahar companies are not taking the risk of promising anything as the completion dates are still unknown.
The airport directors are holding regular talks with various airline companies, predominantly the low-cost operators, which is the same market coveted by its competitor Reus. So far only the Valencian operator Air Nostrum has confirmed its presence, Romanian Blue Air has shown some interest and negotiations continue with Air Berlin, Ryanair and Vueling.
Work on the airport is 97% complete according to the developers, but there are still various outstanding requirements that threaten it summer 2010 opening. The main obstacle being permission from the Spanish development ministry for flights to be allowed to take off and land from the Vilanova runways.
Other outstanding points include issues of security and border control and access with the A-7 motorway scheduled to reach the site before the end of the year.