Madrid/Santander, 15 September 2026. The Spanish Consejo de Ministros has approved the regulatory framework DORA III for the 2027–2031 period, including €61.7 million for Seve Ballesteros Airport–Santander. Transport Minister Óscar Puente explained the decision after the meeting. In Santander, the package covers expansion of the non-Schengen departures area, resurfacing of the runway, additional operational safety measures, and a new rescue and firefighting building.
The decision is part of a nationwide programme through which Aena is bringing together investment in Spain's airport networks for the next regulatory period. DORA III sets the investment framework, performance targets and methodology for airport charges. The funding for Santander is intended primarily to speed up the handling of international flights, reduce bottlenecks at peak times and modernise safety equipment. According to the government, this includes purchasing new fire engines and upgrading airside operational areas.
The Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia had reviewed Aena's draft in recent months and recommended adjustments to the investment profile and charges trajectory. The version now approved follows this approach more closely than the airport operator's original proposal. The relevant coordination bodies of the autonomous communities had also submitted comments on regional priorities, including the handling of growing international traffic in Cantabria.
For Cantabria, the allocation provides significant certainty for planning and financing at Seve Ballesteros–Santander. Aena had already indicated in preparatory work that the airport needed to expand its non-Schengen capacity and improve the condition of the runway to prepare for expected passenger growth. According to the government, the funding will come from the network's usual self-financing arrangements; direct grants from the state budget are not envisaged.
The detailed timetable, tendering arrangements and any restrictions on flight operations during construction remain unknown. Aena and the ministry said they would publish detailed plans in the coming weeks. For travellers and airlines in Santander, the measures are expected to bring shorter processing times and more reliable operations in the long term; short-term effects during construction will depend on the final construction schedule.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).