The ghost airport in Europe that had no passengers. Investment of 1.1 billion euros, with a terminal that could receive 10 million people annually

Built with huge ambitions and over a billion euros, an airport in Spain has become in just a few years one of Europe's most resounding infrastructure failures: no passengers, no flights and no future.

Ciudad Real Airport was inaugurated in 2009 PHOTO: Getty images

Built at a cost of over €1.1 billion, Ciudad Real was inaugurated in 2009 and promised to become a major aviation hub that would reduce congestion at other Spanish airports and attract many low-cost airlines from across Europe.

Instead of succeeding, it barely lasted three years before closing completely, earning the nickname of Spain's “ghost airport”. The project was conceived during the real estate boom of the 2000s, and its ambitions were huge.

With one of the longest runways in Europe at 4.1 km and a terminal designed to handle up to ten million passengers annually, investors rushed to what they believed to be a safe business, express reports.

The project was presented as an alternative to Madrid, although a direct connection to the Madrid–Seville high-speed train line was also promoted. However, it became clear from the start that things were not going to go according to plan.

Withdrawal of airlines

Located 200 kilometers from Madrid, the airport has not been able to convince passengers to travel the distance, even in exchange for cheaper tickets. And the promised direct connection to the Madrid-Seville high-speed line, which would have reduced the journey to less than an hour, was never built.

In addition, years of delays due to environmental litigation have pushed costs even higher, undermining airline interest. Air Berlin, Air Nostrum and even Ryanair, initially partners in the project, have one by one withdrawn their routes due to extremely low demand. The last remaining airline, Vueling, also pulled out in 2011, leaving the airport without any scheduled flights just three years after opening.

In 2012, the company that managed the airport was already suffocated by debts exceeding 300 million euros and declared bankruptcy. In April of the same year, the last operations were halted and Ciudad Real remained completely closed.

However, things were about to get worse. Despite the investment of more than one billion euros, the location was put up for auction with a minimum price of 100 million euros, just a fraction of the original cost. Even with this huge discount, no one wanted to buy the airport for close to that amount.

According to the cited publication, after years of legal deadlocks, failed sales and protracted negotiations, Ciudad Real was acquired in 2018 for around 56 million euros.

A year later, the airport was reopened, but not for passengers: its new role is that of an aircraft storage, maintenance and dismantling center.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was temporarily used to house dozens of grounded aircraft, but never regained the role it was built for.