Airport Andorra-La Seu d'Urgell: a business opportunity for the Principality
Until about two years ago, people who wanted to visit Andorra is reached either through the Andorran roads or from Lleida Alguaire Airport , two hours drive from the country. Others, even from the Airport, three hours by road. In recent years, the Principality of Andorra has initiated a process to modernize its network infrastructure and connections with foreignconsidering the lack of sea and distance to the main train stations, the Puigcerdà are closer and Hospitalet on the French side, demonstrated that the Principality had to look at the sky to improve their connections with the potentially most important destinations.
Thus, in early 2015 was inaugurated Airport Andorra- La Seu d'Urgell , in order to attract not just leisure tourism, but also facilitate the arrival of entrepreneurs with economic interests the Principality of Andorra and boost the economy and Andorra . With this new facility, located just 20 minutes drive from the country, Andorra wants to boost its appeal even to the outside and facilitate the connection with other Spanish destinations, but especially in Europe.
A new opportunity for Andorra
Airport Andorra- La Seu d'Urgell then responds to the opening of the economic model and the country's financial , looking beyond their own borders to attract foreign investment . And in recent years, the Principality of Andorra has become an attractive destination for many companies thanks to a favorable tax conditions and competitive forces , such as security.
Until 2015, the current La Seu d'Urgell Airport Andorra- worked as a private airfield, but thanks to the agreement between the governments of Andorra, Catalan and Spanish and the city of La Seu d'Urgell , the project was reactivated, to become a commercial airport . According to figures from Airports of Catalonia in 2016 there were 3,584 transactions, representing an increase of 66% compared to the previous year, when there were 2,156 operations.
Today, the airport is a growing project that has a vast potential , not only from the perspective of tourism, but especially from the business point to increased foreign investment and thus diversifying the Andorran economy . Currently, the airport has no scheduled flights, although it is true that during the summer offer flights from Palma de Mallorca and Madrid.
Infrastructure development in
this 2017 should be the year that consolidated the regular commercial lines from the Airport Andorra- based in other cities, and vice versa. According to the Minister of Territorial Planning of Andorra, Jordi Torres , two foreign airlines are interested to operate regularly from the airport Andorra- La Seu d'Urgell; one of the routes that could come into operation is Madrid - Andorra La Seu. In parallel, and then perform the operations instrument approaches (GPS), the airport is waiting for the Spanish government confirmed the feasibility of this system, Which would increase the interest of new companies offering regular flights. Indeed, during the last meeting between the head of government of Andorra, Antoni Martí, and the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, the latter promised to give a boost to this infrastructure this year.
A new project by 2018.
At the same time The Andorran government is building a helipad that will connect the country with the airports of Barcelona and Toulouse . According to sources in the executive, the infrastructure will be available by mid next year. The heliport, which also could connect with the Airport Andorra- La Seu d'Urgell will be located in the town of Encamp.
If you are planning to relocate your business or setting up a company in the Principality of Andorra and you need to get personalized advice, please contact Tax Team of IS21.
