ANDORRA LA VELLA (ANDORRA), 1 Feb. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Andorra-la Seu d’Urgell airport has inaugurated this Wednesday the new lights of the runway and the platform that must allow the landing and takeoff of night flights.

The facility has hosted a drill that has been carried out “successfully” and in which the Minister of the Presidency, Economy and Business of the Government of Andorra, and the Minister of Territories of the Generalitat, Juli Fernàndez, have been present, informs the Government of Andorra in a statement.

The infrastructure lighting works have lasted five months and have involved an investment of 1.05 million euros, fully borne by the Generalitat.

The work consisted of the installation of three lighting towers with LEDs and eleven light towers with collection and solar energy batteries.

The runway has also been adapted with obstacle lights, leds and pipes on the sides, and an aerodrome lighthouse has been installed in the control tower.

With this new lighting, it is planned to expand the airport’s operations, facilitating it in the hours when there is no natural light.

Even so, it has been pointed out that “to reduce the visual and energetic impact” the lights will only come on if they are carried out.

CERTIFICATION

Once the drill is done, it will now be the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) who will have to certify the works and grant the necessary requirements to be able to use the lights.

As reported by the Government of Andorra, AESA technicians are expected to visit the airport on February 7 and 8.

Minister Gallardo has expressed his satisfaction with the works and has ensured that the operating time slots can be extended, “opening the door to new flight schedules” that should allow higher occupancy rates to be reached.

Gallardo has also highlighted the efforts of both the Andorran Government and the Generalitat to grow an infrastructure “capital in our unlocking strategy”.

In fact, he also referred to the next challenge for the facility: having a control point for people and goods to promote the Andorra-la Seu airport as an “international infrastructure” with flights from outside the Schengen area.

For his part, Minister Juli Fernàndez pointed out that both institutions are willing to strengthen the infrastructure to continue creating opportunities in the territory, and he highlighted the “intense, coordinated and fruitful” collaboration between the two executives.

Finally, the minister has made reference to the recent works to adapt the road that gives access to the airport, which have meant a renewal of the signals, the repair of the beaconing and the security barrier, as well as the cleaning of the drainage and the slopes , with an investment of 100,000 euros.