PALMA DE MALLORCA AIRPORT: A MODERN AIRPORT THAT IS THE THIRD BUSIEST IN SPAIN.

Palma de Mallorca International Airport, also known as Son Sant Joan Airport, is the third most important airport in Spain in terms of traffic and passenger volume, and on several occasions it is even ahead of Barcelona-El Prat Airport. It is located 8 kilometres southeast of the centre of the island's capital, Palma de Mallorca, between the bay of Palma and the city.

The island of Mallorca, due to its exceptional climate, its famous and award-winning beaches with crystal-clear waters, its rich historical and cultural heritage, its exquisite Mediterranean gastronomy, its cosmopolitan capital and its enviable lifestyle, is considered one of the most attractive destinations, with the majority of its visitors being international, with more than 21 million.

By nationality, Germany is the country with the highest number of passenger movements, with the Düsseldorf-Palma axis being the international route par excellence. It is followed by Spain, with Madrid and Barcelona as the most important links (almost 2 million people) and finally the United Kingdom. Currently 10% of flights are charters compared to 90% of scheduled traffic, with 80% of passengers being tourists, 7% ethnic traffic, 8% business and 5% other. Most of them (84%) arrived in Mallorca aboard A320 or Boeing 737 family aircraft.

Mallorca Airport was consolidated as such in 1962, when special interest was given to it as it exceeded one million passengers per year and a project was started to extend the runway and car park, as well as the construction of a terminal building for more than five million passengers with all the complementary facilities that this entailed (beaconing, communications and air navigation services with a surveillance radar).

The surprising continued growth of passenger traffic in Mallorca, which by 1995 had already exceeded fifteen million, made it necessary to consider a profound and necessary remodelling of the airport terminal, work on which began in 1993 and was completed in 1997 with the inauguration of a new building designed by the Mallorcan architect Pere Nicolau Bonet. Later, in 2003, the inter-island module for regional and short-haul flights was inaugurated.

Palma de Mallorca Airport has a wide variety of complementary services in the Terminal and in its Modules A, B, C and D, which make passengers' stay easier. These services are as follows: Airport information, Car hire, ATMs, Currency exchange, Left-luggage office, Post office, VAT refund, Defibrillators, Lost luggage, Pharmacy, Security forces, Internet, Weapons interception, Lamination machines, Lost and found, Pipican or spaces set aside for pets, Meeting point, Restaurants and cafeterias, Multi-purpose rental rooms, VIP rooms, Baby rooms, Medical service, Shops-shopping, Complaints.

In addition, a new General Aviation building has been put into service, which is accessed from the roundabout located under the access bridges to the Airport and which has all the necessary services for companies as well as for passengers of private flights, freighters and air taxis. This construction has 715 m2 and contains several ground handling company premises and the services typical of a terminal such as information, toilets, waiting areas and VIP lounges; spaces with views of the apron and brightly lit.

All of these improvements to Palma de Mallorca Airport's infrastructures have made it one of the most modern and best equipped airports in the world in this 21st century, allowing more than 20 million passengers to be attended to with quality services and in a safe manner.