ARCHIVED - Delays in opening Corvera airport cost 180 million euros, says the Murcia government

The accrued interest on a 182-million loan inherited by the government adds a further 30 million to the losses

The regional government of Murcia has calculated that the delay in opening the new Region of Murcia International Airport cost the Region 180.1 million euros in lost revenue and damages, according to a report which has been submitted to the national Court of Auditors as attempts are made to settle the dispute between the government and the Aeromur consortium which was originally awarded the contract to build and manage the airport in Corvera.

This figure relates to the government’s assessment of the costs and lost revenue incurred by the delay in opening the infrastructure, a delay which led to the management contract being rescinded in 2013, well after the stipulated opening date. On top of this further costs have been incurred due to the government being obliged to take on a 182-million loan to Aeromur for which it acted as guarantor, with the accrued interest on the outstanding capital amounting to around 30 million euros.

On the other side of the equation, Aeromur originally lodged a claim for 518 million euros against the government of Murcia, basing their figure on the costs of construction and the revenue lost by the rescission of the contract before flights had started. But according to the government the construction costs amounted to 143.7 million euros and no other factors need to be taken into account, leaving a balance in favour of the government of 36.4 million euros (plus the amounts associated with the loan).

Eventually, after a wait of seven years and various court cases, the regional government awarded a new management contract to Aena and the airport finally welcomed its first flights on 15th January 2019.

This week a significant but short-lived boost to passenger numbers at Corvera has been received with the re-routing of flights from Alicante-Elche airport between Sunday and Tuesday due to the extreme weather in Alicante, with another seven being added to the list of unscheduled departures and take-offs after the figure rose to over 100 on Monday.

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