Owais Crawford
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a city steeped in history, with its roots in the Roman era. The city has grown and evolved since its foundation in Roman times, with the growth of the city attributed to the Romans, who turned the territory into a significant urban centre. Barcelona's main airport, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, is located 15km from the city centre and is the second busiest airport in Spain. However, the history of aviation in Barcelona is relatively recent, with the city's first airfield, located at El Remolar, commencing operations in 1916. This airfield faced expansion challenges, leading to the opening of El Prat in 1918, marking the beginning of Barcelona's aviation journey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport |
| Location | 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of the centre of Barcelona |
| Municipality | El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans, and Sant Boi, Catalonia, Spain |
| Year of opening | 1918 |
| Number of terminals | 2 |
| Number of runways | 3 |
| Number of passengers in 2023 | 49.9 million |
| Barcelona's urban evolution | Constant since its foundation in Roman times |
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What You'll Learn
Barcelona's first airfield opened in 1916 at El Remolar
Barcelona's first airfield, located at El Remolar, began operations in 1916. The airfield was situated on La Volatería farmlands. However, due to a lack of expansion opportunities, a new airport was opened in 1918 at El Prat, which is located 15km (9.3 miles) southwest of the centre of Barcelona. The first aircraft to arrive at El Prat was a Latécoère Salmson 300, which had flown from Toulouse and was headed to Casablanca. The airport was used as the headquarters of the Aeroclub of Catalonia and the base for the Spanish Navy's Zeppelin fleet.
In 1927, El Prat commenced its first scheduled commercial service, with an Iberia service to Madrid Cuatro Vientos Airport. During the Second Spanish Republic, El Prat served as one of the bases for Líneas Aéreas Postales Españolas (LAPE). The airport continued to develop over the years, with the construction of runways, terminals, and other facilities. In 1948, the airport handled its first overseas service, operated by Pan American World Airways to New York City.
El Prat underwent significant growth and modernisation in preparation for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The existing terminal was expanded and modernised, becoming known as Terminal B. The airport experienced a drop in air traffic after 1999 and was impacted by the aviation sector crisis in 2001. However, it survived due to the diversion of charter operations from other airports.
Today, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport is the second-largest and second-busiest airport in Spain and the busiest international airport in Catalonia. It serves as a hub for Level and Vueling and is a focus city for Air Europa, Iberia, EasyJet, and Ryanair. In 2019, the airport handled a record-breaking 52,686,314 passengers, showcasing its vital role in Barcelona's tourism and business industries.
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The city's current airport, El Prat, opened in 1918
El Prat's early years were marked by its role as the headquarters of the Aeroclub of Catalonia and as a base for the Spanish Navy's Zeppelin fleet. The airport witnessed its first scheduled international flight in 1948, with Pan American World Airways operating a historic journey from Barcelona to New York City. This event highlighted the growing importance of El Prat as an emerging aviation hub.
The airport's infrastructure developed significantly in the following years. Between 1948 and 1952, El Prat underwent expansion with the construction of its first runway (07-25), taxiways, and a terminal. Additionally, a second runway (16-34) was built to accommodate the increasing air traffic. The airport continued to grow, and in 1963, it reached a remarkable milestone of serving one million passengers annually. This led to further developments, including the construction of a new control tower in 1965 and a new terminal in 1968, which is still in use today as Terminal 2B.
The 1970s brought even more growth and recognition to El Prat. In 1970, Pan American World Airways introduced a regular service connecting Barcelona, Lisbon, and New York, utilising a Boeing 747. Iberia, not wanting to be left behind, launched its iconic "Air-shuttle" service between Barcelona and Madrid in the same year. To cater to this increasing demand, a terminal dedicated to Iberia's shuttle service and a cargo terminal were constructed in 1976. By 1977, El Prat had joined the league of major airports, handling over five million passengers annually.
El Prat has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing aviation industry. It has undergone expansions, modernisations, and improvements to enhance the passenger experience. Today, it stands as the second-largest and second-busiest airport in Spain and the busiest international airport in Catalonia. It handles a vast majority of flights in the region, surpassing Girona, Reus, and Lleida. El Prat's growth reflects the city of Barcelona's prominence as a reference point in Southern Europe and a renowned tourist destination.
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El Prat is located 15km from Barcelona's city centre
El Prat opened in 1918, with the first plane arriving from Toulouse with a final destination of Casablanca. The airport was used as the headquarters of the Aeroclub of Catalonia and the base for the Spanish Navy's Zeppelin fleet. Commercial services began in 1927 with an Iberia service to Madrid. During the time of the Second Spanish Republic, El Prat was one of the bases of LAPE (Líneas Aéreas Postales Españolas). In 1948, the first overseas service was operated by Pan American World Airways to New York City.
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is the most important urban centre in the region in demographic, political, economic, and cultural terms. The city has a rich history, with its growth beginning with the arrival of the Romans. The urban evolution of Barcelona has been constant since its foundation in Roman times, with the city's structure and walls dating back to the Roman and medieval periods. The Gothic Quarter, for example, was the primitive urban core of the city. Barcelona's administrative division has varied over time, with the first delimitation established in 1389, dividing the city into four quarters: Framenors, Pi, Mar, and Sant Pere.
Barcelona is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful architecture, such as the buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí, including the Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà. The city also has a vibrant football culture, with the famous Barcelona stadium, Camp Nou. Additionally, Barcelona is a business centre, with infrastructures that make it a reference point in Southern Europe. The city is well-connected, with a port, an airport, and a network of railroads and roads.
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The airport is named after a former Catalonian president
Barcelona's first airfield, located at El Remolar, began operations in 1916. However, it was replaced by a new airport at El Prat in 1918. This airport, now known as the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, is named after a former Catalonian president. It is also known as Barcelona-El Prat Airport, El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto, or El Prat Airport. The airport is located in the municipalities of El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans, and Sant Boi, about 12 to 15 km (7.5 to 9.3 miles) southwest of Barcelona's city centre. It is the second-largest and second-busiest airport in Spain and the busiest international airport in Catalonia.
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport has three runways, with two of them being parallel to the coastline and the third being a crossover. The parallel runways are the busiest, while the third runway is mainly used during the night or under severe weather conditions. The airport has experienced significant growth in passenger traffic and operations over the years, with a record 52,686,314 passengers in 2019, a 5.0% increase from 2018. It serves as a hub for airlines such as Level, Vueling, and Air Nostrum and is a focus city for EasyJet and Ryanair.
The airport has undergone several developments and expansions over the years, including the construction of new terminals and runways. In 1963, the airport reached one million passengers annually, and in 1968, a new terminal was opened, which is still in use today as Terminal 2B. The airport faced a stall in traffic and investments from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, but the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona provided an opportunity for modernisation and expansion. The existing terminal was upgraded and became known as Terminal B, with two additional terminals, Terminals A and C, constructed alongside it. Terminal 1, inaugurated in 2009, now handles 70% of the airport's flights, while the old Terminals A, B, and C have been renamed as Terminals 2A, 2B, and 2C.
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport plays a crucial role in connecting Barcelona with domestic and international destinations. It offers a range of services and facilities and is well-connected to the city centre, making it a convenient gateway to the Catalonian capital. The airport has a rich history, having served as the headquarters of the Aeroclub of Catalonia and the base for the Spanish Navy's Zeppelin fleet. It commenced scheduled commercial services in 1927 with Iberia's first route to Madrid Cuatro Vientos Airport.
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Roman Barcino's street structure can still be seen in Barcelona today
The city of Barcelona has a rich Roman history. The Romans first established a presence in the region in 15 BC, transforming the existing Iberian settlement into a prosperous colony known as Barcino. Barcino, or Roman Barcinos, was a significant outpost of the Roman Empire, with a strategic coastal location and a thriving port. The city is said to have had a population of 10,000 at its peak.
The Roman colony of Barcino followed a typical urban plan, with a gridded street layout, fortified walls, and public buildings such as temples, baths, and a forum. The structure of the streets of Roman Barcino can still be observed in Barcelona today. The city was designed with a forum at its centre, from which arose two perpendicular streets that formed a cross. These streets connected the four access gates to the wall: Porta Sinistrade, Porta Dextra, Porta Praetoria, and Porta Decumana or Porta del Mar.
Carrer de la Llibreteria, the old cardus, crossed the city from north to south, while Carrer del Bisbe de la Ciutat and Carrer del Regomir, the decumanus, crossed the city from east to west. The city's walls served as a defensive barrier and a symbol of Barcino's status and power. They also acted as a boundary between the realm of the living and the dead, as evidenced by the necropolis located outside the walls.
The Roman Necropolis of Barcelona, or Necrópolis Romana, is a site containing ninety-five 2nd and 3rd-century Roman tombs. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the funerary practices, social structure, and beliefs of the ancient Romans who lived in Barcino. The necropolis is located along the city's aqueduct, which brought fresh water from the nearby hills, highlighting the link between the infrastructure of life and death.
Today, visitors to Barcelona can explore the Roman Necropolis and discover more about the ancient world. The site is protected as an important cultural heritage asset and is open to the public. Additionally, the columns of the Temple of Augustus, another Roman element, are preserved in the courtyard of a Gothic palace in Carrer del Paradís.
While Barcelona's rich Roman history can be traced back to the time of Barcino, the city's first airfield, located at El Remolar, did not begin operations until 1916. A new airport at El Prat opened in 1918, and scheduled commercial services began in 1927 with Iberia's first route to Madrid Cuatro Vientos Airport.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there was no airport in Barcelona during Roman times. The first airfield in Barcelona, located at El Remolar, began operations in 1916. The first airport, El Prat, was opened in 1918.
The city of Barcelona has its roots in Roman times. The Romans turned the territory into a growing city, which continued to develop until the Barcelona of today. The city's Gothic Quarter is the former primitive urban core, and the Ciutat Vella district corresponds to the old core of the city derived from Roman and medieval periods. The structure of the streets of Roman Barcino, with a forum in the centre and perpendicular streets, can still be visited today.
The main airport serving the Barcelona area is called the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (IATA: BCN, ICAO: LEBL). It is also known as El Prat Airport, Barcelona Airport, or Barcelona-El Prat Airport.
