As had been expected, the Balearic Parliament passed a law on Tuesday for the co-management of the islands' airports. This law will need the support of Congress, to which the text will now be sent. It stops short of calling for the transfer of control of the airports - this would remain with the Spanish Government - but seeks to give the Balearics participation in decision-making. This would include the possibility of limiting the number of flights in the high season.
The motion was brought by the Partido Popular and Més in both Mallorca and Menorca. The main opposition party, PSOE, abstained, while Vox rejected the proposal as it was symptomatic of "the orgiastic frenzy of the regions to assume more powers".
At present, there is an airport coordination committee involving representatives of the regional and central governments and the airports authority Aena, which is 51% owned by the state. But it is no more than advisory, and recommendations can be and are ignored.
The Balearic law proposes fundamental change to this committee's functions, making binding reports that the committee will issue in respect of, for example, airport strategy. This committee will be able to determine routes, frequencies, and capacity, and be involved in the organisation of flight slots. The text expressly refers to the study of possible limits in order to reduce tourist overcrowding in the summer.
A further measure would entail a change to the composition of the committee. This would bring in the islands' councils, the town halls of Palma, Mahon and Sant Josep (where the airports are located), chambers of commerce, business associations and unions.
PSOE abstained as they preferred an alternative, one that is to be adopted in the Basque Country. Agreed last month by the Spanish and Basque governments, this does contemplate the creation of a body for the management of airports. It is, however, less far-reaching than the Balearics proposal.
Aena responded to the Basque agreement by saying the matter would be placed in the hands of its legal advisors. The airports authority has consistently defended the current arrangements in terms of its interests, the interests of its shareholders, and existing legislation. The Spanish Government, for its part, has stated on more than one occasion that genuine co-management (of the kind the Balearics are seeking) would not be possible given the shareholding arrangements.
Regions such as the Balearics have referred to provisions in their statutes of autonomy that point to possible participation in decision-making by regional authorities. In the case of the Balearics, these are covered by a 2007 revision of the statute.
It now remains to be seen what Congress makes of this law. The PP in the Balearics reckon that the party nationally will support it. Regional parties may well back it as well; Sumar also. But Vox won't. Then there is PSOE. The Sánchez administration has bent to an extent to go along with the Basque proposal, but the Balearics are wanting something with far more teeth. For Aena, embarking on a massive investment plan for various airports, there are the private shareholders to be concerned about.