Malaga Airport will almost double its number of boarding gates as part of major expansion plans, it has been revealed.
Speaking at a tourism event hosted by the Marbella Tourism Initiative Centre (CIT), airport director Pedro Bendala said the expansion will increase the number of boarding gates with air bridges from 26 to 48.
The ambitious project is designed to prepare the Costa del Sol’s main gateway for continued growth, with Bendala predicting Malaga could become one of the best-connected airports in the world outside a national capital.
More routes and connections
The expansion will create vast new boarding areas and increase capacity for airlines looking to launch additional services.
Malaga Airport currently serves 53 airlines and offers direct links to more than 140 cities across over 40 countries.
Bendala said the extra infrastructure will allow carriers to expand their operations while improving the overall passenger experience.
‘We will probably become one of the best-connected airports in the world that is not the capital of a country, particularly when it comes to Europe,’ he said.
Brighter and more welcoming terminal
The project also aims to modernise parts of the airport that Bendala described as outdated.
He noted that some international arrivals areas currently lack natural light, creating a less welcoming first impression for visitors.
Under the new plans, international passengers will arrive in brighter, more open spaces designed to reflect the character of the Costa del Sol from the moment they step off the plane.
The expanded airport will also place a greater focus on accessibility, with ramps replacing some areas currently reliant on escalators, making it easier for passengers with reduced mobility and their companions to move through the terminal.
Reflecting the Costa del Sol
Bendala said the redevelopment should preserve the region’s identity rather than becoming a generic transport hub.
He argued the airport should showcase local culture, traditions and heritage while offering services tailored to a diverse range of travellers.
The goal, he said, is to create a modern, welcoming and inclusive facility that reflects the spirit of Malaga and the wider Costa del Sol.
Tourism defence amid growing criticism
The airport chief also mounted a strong defence of tourism amid growing anti-tourism protests in parts of Spain.
He argued that tourism remains one of the most effective drivers of prosperity and employment.
‘The tourism industry is the only civilised way we have found to transfer wealth from those who have more to those who have less,’ Bendala said.
He added that tourism is also a peaceful way of sharing cultures, ideas and values between countries.
Passenger numbers continue to rise
The expansion plans come as Malaga Airport continues to break records.
According to Aena, the airport handled 7.7 million passengers during the first four months of 2026, a 7.4% increase on the same period last year.
That makes Malaga Spain’s third-busiest airport, behind only Madrid and Barcelona, underlining its growing importance as one of Europe’s leading tourism gateways.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
