More details are beginning to emerge about the ambitious expansion plans for Malaga Airport.

It comes after more than €800million was already granted by the government earlier this month, representing more than half of the estimated €1.5billion required.

The airport’s director Sergio Millanes said the project would deliver a ‘very significant transformation’ of the Costa del Sol travel hub.

If the preliminary stages progress without complications, construction could begin within the next two or three years, with the most likely year currently 2029.

Millanes declined to provide a more precise starting date because several administrative and technical procedures must first be completed.

These include drawing up the detailed plans, opening the contracts to tender and awarding the work to the successful companies.

The complete transformation is expected to require an investment of close to €1.5billion and take around seven years to complete.

More than €850million has already received backing from Spain’s Council of Ministers through the country’s Airport Regulation Document, known as DORA.

Passport-control area

The expansion will substantially increase the airport’s capacity and is intended to improve the experience of passengers travelling through its terminals.

Among the most significant changes will be a passport-control area approximately six times larger than the current facility.

The additional space is expected to help the airport process growing numbers of international travellers, particularly during the busy summer.

Malaga Airport has recorded passenger growth of more than 6% in recent months and continues to break traffic records.

On a typical busy day during summer, more than 107,000 passengers have passed through the airport.

Millanes said the facility was currently operating well despite the sustained increase in demand and had not encountered any major problems.

More international routes

The airport director said new connections were being launched almost every week, while markets including the Middle East were showing particularly promising growth.

He also highlighted the performance of United Airlines’ direct service between Malaga and New York, saying the route was ‘working very well’.

However, any decision to increase its frequency or introduce additional flights would ultimately rest with the airlines.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.