Massive military celebration planned

Celebrations for the Spanish Armed Forces Day are to go ahead as planned in Majorca and, despite opposition from the airlines, Palma's Son San Joan airport is to be closed for two hours. Head of Palma's Son San Joan airforce base, Colonel José Francisco Moliné, said yesterday that the June 2 air show will go ahead as planned. The Colonel explained that the MOD has spoken to the Spanish airport authority AENA and air traffic control in an attempt to reduce disruption to commercial flights at Palma airport to a minimum. “The consequences of closing the airport will be minimal,” he said. He explained that the event has been specially designed in order to bring the public and the military closer together and also provide the public with the chance to see some of the world's most potent aircraft at first hand. Officially, Armed Forces Day is May 29, but the celebrations will conclude on Sunday, June 2 with the air show and exhibition at the airforce base. On the Sunday there will be air displays organised between 10am and 2pm, however the MOD only need to close air space for just 45 minutes, so the disruption to commercial traffic will be minimal. During the day there will be a host of events on the ground and in the air, from fly pasts to simulated rescue operations and a demonstration by Spanish paratroopers. On May 29, King Juan Carlos of Spain will travel to Kosovo to mark the day with Spanish troops, while in Palma, the official headquarters for this year's festivities, over 4'000 people are expected to mark the event on the Sunday. Also attending will be military chiefs from across Spain, local politicians and dignitaries. Although some flight delays are going be inevitable due to Palma air space being closed on the Sunday, in order to keep problems on the ground to a minimum, the EMT public bus company will be operating a special shuttle service from the Parc de la Mar and the Plaza de Esapaña to the air force base for the public. Security will be obviously tough at the base and parking will be restricted.