Due for completion in 2010 and expected to be fully operational by the winter of that year, the first week of works on the airport will see marking of the site begin and in the following week the first of the earth-moving machines arrive.
The budget of 266 million euros is high but given the great need for the airport in the region, it is easy to see why a large amount of money is being spent to build Murcia Airport. Current statistics for San Javier Airport show that in recent years passenger numbers have been on a steady increase with a 22% growth from 2006 to 2007, taking passenger numbers from 1,646,129 in 2006 to 2,002,949 in 2007.
This increase in the number of people visiting the Murcia region of Spain indicates the ever-growing popularity of the region, even given the current economic climate. Mike Hamilton, MD of local developer Casas de Lorca comments, "The development of the eagerly anticipated Murcia Airport will be excellent for the region as it will ease passenger numbers at the current airport as well as making travel easier and more convenient for both regular visitors and new passengers utilising the new facilities. Murcia continues to grow in popularity as more and more people come to recognise the area's attractive scenery, rich history and good value for money and the development of Murcia Airport will only add to this trend."
