Thursday November 16th 2023
The Government approved on Wednesday, November 15th, the definite adjudication of the tender for the launching of a new air connection from the airport of Andorra–La Seu d’Urgell to the one in Palma de Mallorca operating during this year´s winter season. The international tender was awarded to the company Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional), whose offer was the only one presented within the terms established by the tender– a second offer was discarded as it was presented past the deadline.
The State Secretary for Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility values that the new route adds to the already existing one that uses the airport of the Alt Urgell and which connects with Madrid, therefore adding alternatives to diversify the arrival of tourists along with the airport´s activity, as well as create new economic synergies for the area of the Pyrenees and unlock the country.
The adjudication approved by the Government on Wednesday is a pilot test with the aim of connecting the airport of Andorra-La Seu with the Balearic Islands during the 2023-2024 winter season. The company will offer two return flights every Friday and Sunday from January 5th to March 31st, completing a total of 13 operative weeks over the winter. More specifically flights will be as follows: Fridays PMI-LEU: 08:45 h and LEU-PMI: 10:45 h; Sundays PMI-LEU: 13:45 h and LEU-PMI: 15:45 h.
With regards to commercial operations, the tender specified what the company already promotes. In fact, ticket sales will be carried out within existing company circuits and alliances, through their website. In this sense, the company has already announced that ticket prices will start at 50 euros per flight, with a 75% discount for residents of the Balearic Islands and which is applied by the Spanish State for all airline operations leaving from the Balearic airports and flying abroad. In addition, the airline has also announced that connecting flights tit he airports of Ibiza and Menorca will also be facilitated with the same flight ticket used between Andorra and Palma.
In terms of retribution on the Government´s part which would ensure the economic feasibility of exploiting these passenger flights, the Executive will offer a maximum amount of 220.000 euros depending on the real occupancy of the route. In other words, this maximum amount will be reduced in accordance to flight occupancy throughout the pilot test.
Text and photo: Govern d’Andorra
