The Lleida-Alguaire airport business plan was presented last 28th of July, concurrent with the airport Strategic Table meeting. The growth strategy of the airport has opted for a commercial model aimed to achieve greater efficiency and based on the diversification and development of different business branches: commercial aviation, tour operators, general aviation, training and air cargo.
In the tour operators branch two new agreements will be signed with the companies Ascent Travel and Pegas Touristik (pending the approval of the Spanish government to fly out of the Schengen area), with the aim of bringing a minimum of 6,500 skiers from Russia to the Lleida region. The arrival of the new tour operators comes in addition to the agreement between Neilson-Thomas Cook and the airport signed some months ago by virtue of which the company will maintain its operations in the airport during five additional years. In this period, the British company will transport around 34,000 passengers.
To foster the multifunctionality and profitability of the airport, its business areas will be diversified, especially the agribusiness and food export. According to a study commissioned by the Catalan Agriculture Ministry, Alguaire airport could become an air cargo logistic platform of high added value primarily focused on the provision of goods for the region but also as air cargo airport for goods from and to intercontinental destinations.
The Strategic Table has also made possible to agree the deployment of the company Mach Helicòpters at Alguaire airport. This new operator will establish a training school for pilots and will operate commercial flights from the airport. The fact that this company will operate primarily at Alguaire airport reinforces the will to search synergies with companies that complement the activities at the Lleida infrastructure. In this sense, the company RS serveis Teledetecció started its deployment at the airport some months ago and there is a project in development to build two hangars in cooperation with the company Cimalsa.
