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CloseSummer Season 2013
This summer Barcelona-El Prat Airport plans to introduce 67 new routes which were not available in the summer of 2012. The Catalan airport will be offering a total of 311 scheduled routes to more than 200 destinations.
In intercontinental destinations, the latest development is the return of flights to Chicago with Pakistan International Airlines, and the routes to Fez (Morocco) operated by Ryanair and Vueling. In addition, the route to Banjul will now be operated by Gambia Bird and Vueling. There will also be more frequent flights to existing destinations, such as to Doha with Qatar Airways, and flights to Algiers, Cairo and Marrakesh. Other interesting new routes will be offered by Vueling to Algiers, Banjul, Casablanca, Nador, Oran and Tangiers, and by Ryanair to Nador.
As well as intercontinental destinations, Barcelona-El Prat will have new scheduled international destinations not available last year: Arad, Craiova, Dresden, Exeter, Istanbul-Sabina Gokçen, Kiev, Reykjavik, Moscow-Vnukovo, Rennes, Tbilisi and Turin.
Meanwhile, Air Canada is operating flights to Toronto once more; these will run five times a week, and Air Transat will again offer three flights a week to Montreal and two a week to Toronto. These Canadian destinations are in addition to the existing North American flights: US Airways to Philadelphia, Delta Air Lines to Atlanta, American Airlines to New York-JFK and United Airlines to Newark.
T2 shopping
Remodelling continues in the retail area of Barcelona-El Prat terminal T2, with two new shops opened recently: Claire's Accessories and the shoe shop Calzados La Molla (Casas). Both establishments are located in boarding module M3. These new shops join Natura and Cottet, in operation since late last year, and new premises for Caffé di Fiore. Aena Aeropuertos's new retail plan is intended to optimise the shopping experience available in T2, providing a better fit with passenger profiles and improving user experience in the terminal. With this remodelling, T2 will have a retail space of 9,000 square metres, and the number of shops will increase to 24, as well as the 13 catering areas already in existence.
Meanwhile, the first phase of remodelling of the shopping area of terminal T1 has finished with the reopening of four shops: Adolfo Domínguez, La Botiga del Barça, Thinking Barcelona and Collection for Men (formerly Mens and Fashion). Building work is continuing as planned, and will double the size of the shopping area, offering customers luxury brands and improving passengers' experience in the airport.
Terminal T2
Due to the renovation project in terminal T2, T2 A remains closed for luggage check-in. Check-in for all airlines operating in T2 will be at the desks located in T2 B, except Easyjet (and its subsidiary Easyjet Switzerland) which will check-in in T2 C.
Baggage reclaim is in terminals T2 A and T2 B. Hall A is for baggage reclaim for airlines offering non-Schengen flights only, and for all charter flights (Schengen and non-Schengen): Aer Lingus, Air Arabia Maroc, Belavia, Blue Air, Flybe, I Fly, Jetairfly, Kolavia, Monarch Airlines, Orbest, Pakistan Internacional Airlines, Rossiya-Russian Airlines, Transaero Airlines and Ural Airlines. Hall B has baggage reclaim for companies offering scheduled flights, both Schengen and non-Schengen: Easyjet, Easyjet Switzerland, Germanwings, Hop!, Luxair, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair, Sky Work, Transavia.com and Wizz Air.
The car park building opposite T2 A and the footbridge between the car park and the terminal also remain closed, as do the overground car parks attached to the building.
Meanwhile, boarding module M4 now forms part of the international non-Schengen area, which previously applied to module M5 only. This almost doubles the international capacity of terminal T2.
Cruises
Barcelona-El Prat Airport has introduced a check-in procedure for cruise ship passengers, which will be operational until 27 November. It is a specific procedure for travellers taking a flight after arriving in Barcelona on a cruise.
Two specific procedures are established for cruise customers. First, there the are passengers who arrive in Barcelona by ship and then fly with the airlines Air France, British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa. This group has its own check-in desks in the Intermodal lobby in T1, where they can check in their luggage and pick up their boarding passes if necessary. This year new security checkpoints have been provided for the regional flight area – South dock – and the air shuttle – North dock – for passengers who check in at the Intermodal lobby and then go to the boarding area.
Second, there is the Delta Airlines procedure for passengers arriving on cruise ships who then fly with that airline from Barcelona-El Prat Airport. In this case, passengers check in their luggage at the port.
Passengers who arrive in Barcelona by air and then take a ship are directed to the bus platforms in T1, from where they will be taken to the port. In this area, the company Intercruises manages operations for the cruise lines Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Happag Lloyd, while BC Tours manages Norwegian and Carnival cruise operations.
Cruise passenger services also include assistance for People with Reduced Mobility (PRM). In the Intermodal lobby there is a desk with personnel always available to meet passenger requirements.
Mobile phone charging
Barcelona-El Prat airport has twelve mobile phone recharging machines each with six lockers are distributed throughout the airport's two terminals. Each locker, with key, has four types of connectors for mobiles, mp3 players, consoles, etc. They are very simple and safe to use, as passengers can leave their mobiles recharging in a locked compartment while they shop in the shopping area. The rate is €1 per 30 minutes recharging time.
Shuttle bus
The shuttle bus service between terminals T1 and T2 in Barcelona-El Prat is running more often. The buses on this route now leave every 4 minutes between 8 am and 8 pm. From 5:00 am to 8:00 am, shuttles run every 7 minutes, and from 12:00 am to 5:00 am, every 20 minutes.
Buses on this route offer passengers full facilities: interior information screens, PA system, waiting time and alert before the next stop, ramp for people with reduced mobility, etc. The stops will still be the same (T2B - T2C - T1) and the service will still be totally free of charge for users.
Fast lane
Barcelona-El Prat airport has a fast track available to airlines to reach the security checkpoints of terminal T1. This service is available to airlines and lets passengers go straight to the security check area. This initiative forms part of Aena Aeropuertos' Safety Excellence Plan, the main objective of which is to make airport security checks more comfortable.