Murcia-San Javier airport closes to passenger flights

The last flight from San Javier took off with Sir Kenny Dalglish on board!

Monday evening was a sad one for those who have enjoyed flying into and out of Murcia-San Javier airport over the last 25 years, a period in which international flights became common on the shore of the Mar Menor, as passengers on the last flight, the Ryanair service to Manchester, took off on schedule at 20.40.

Intense press interest surrounded the events of the evening, which were presided over by the president of airport management company Aena, Maurici Lucena, and the managing colonel of the Academia General del Aire (the Spanish Air force officer training academy), Miguel Ivorra, with the use of the aerodrome now reverting exclusively to the military as of Tuesday 15^th January.

The saga of the new Region of Murcia International Airport in Corvera, to which flights are transferred as of Tuesday morning, has been dogged by controversy ever since it was first talked about in Murcia in the early years of this century – click here for a history of the project over the last ten years - but the head of Aena declined to be drawn into commenting on the past, limiting his focus of attention to the present and the future.

Instead, Sr Lucena reports that the preparations for the transfer of flights to Corvera went smoothly, despite this being the first time that Aena have closed a profitable airport and the first time that they have taken on the management of a facility in Spain which the company does not own (the Region of Murcia International Airport is owned by the regional government).

He also explained that the taking over of Corvera is entirely justifiable in economic terms despite the need to accelerate the depreciation of the fixed assets at San Javier, and that according to all of the projections the new facility will be profitable for Aena. However, he also points out that there are various factors which are not under his, or anyone’s control - the world economy and the effect of Brexit, to name just two.

Sr Lucena also makes a very important point which is overlooked by those who put forward optimistic predictions regarding the effect of the new airport on tourism: it is not airports that attract tourists, it is the regions where they are located. In other words, any exponential growth in international tourism will come not from the opening of the airport in Corvera, but from the promotion of the tourist attractions of the Region of Murcia and the Costa Cálida, and while Aena will collaborate with the “marketing” of the destination it is the job of the regional and local authorities in the Region to attract more visitors.

But all of that lies in the future, beginning tomorrow in Corvera. On Monday evening at the airport in San Javier it was all about goodbyes and, in many cases, fond memories of the facility which for many of us has become familiar and friendly over the last 20 years or so.

All of the passengers who spoke to Murcia Today used the word "sad" when asked how they felt about being on the last flight out of the airport, and even Sir Kenny and his wife, who said that they have been coming to the Murcia Region for the last 30 years, expressed their affection for the airport and the friendly and welcoming experiences they had always enjoyed.

Turnaround from the moment the last flight landed, was emptied, refuelled and reloaded for the return trip to Manchester was rapid, the head of Aena, managing colonel of the air academy to whom the installations will now revert and government delegate to the region talking to the media as passengers waited to board.

Last to board was Alice Nugent from Blackpool, who had gained the honour of being the last passenger on board due to the fact that the enthusiastic highways department had already blacked out the airport name from the road signs, and she ended up in the centre of San Javier town going around and around a roundabout before a passer/by directed her to the airport.

As the last passenger boarded the departure lounge fell silent for the last time, the cleaning staff set to work for the final time before, in most cases, resuming their duties on Tuesday at the new airport in Corvera, the last coffee was served in the cafeteria, and the departures and arrivals boards were emptied forever.

As the plane roared off into the night staff took their "last stand selfies" while firecrews and security personnel paid their own final tribute to the installations, driving past the terminal with sirens blaring. As they passed, technicians began work loading and transferring equipment, vehicles and personal possessions across to Corvera, work which will continue throughout the night ready for the arrival of the first flights into Corvera airport on Tuesday morning.

Outside,signs for San Javier airport were being replaced with signs for the air academy, and on roads surrounding both airports staff will work overnight to ensure that any visitors searching for the regional airport will be directed to the correct location.

The end of an era. A night of sadness for many passengers and staff.

But tomorrow a new era begins as Corvera International Airport opens for business.

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