Potential for new flights prompts Gib to discuss airport parking with La Linea

The Ministry for Transport is exploring the use of around 9,000 parking spaces across the border in La Línea as part of efforts to future-proof against increased traffic expected from new flights.

Gibraltar has had interest from airlines over potential new routes from Spain, France, Holland and other European destinations, with new flights expected to emerge as from summer 2027.

The Minister for Transport, Dr John Cortes, said discussions were under way with authorities in La Línea for passengers to potentially access parking from across the border.

On the table is also the possibility of building a multi-storey car park on the site of Gibraltar’s existing airport car park. However, a multi-storey car park would require the existing parking area to be removed temporarily, resulting in some disruption.

Dr Cortes said his team had met with the La Linea council's transport team recently to discuss the options.

He pointed to the availability of thousands of parking spaces in La Línea.

“Just across the border there are 9,000 parking spaces,” Dr Cortes said.

He said the spaces, including areas near the stadium, were being considered as part of a joint approach to parking.

“We are looking at jointly promoting those parking spaces, diverting tourists and maybe users of the airport to there," Dr Cortes said.

The ministry and council are also considering a shuttle service from the Spanish side to the border, although Dr Cortes stressed that the plans were at an early stage.

He said the parking spaces included both public and private facilities, with many operating on a pay-and-display basis.

Dr Cortes said the option of building a multi-storey car park in Gibraltar had not been ruled out, but the use of parking facilities in La Línea could provide an alternative.

“It’s early days, so we are not discarding the fact that we may build a multi-storey on our side, but we're also looking at the option of using the Spanish side for parking,” he said.

Dr Cortes said the approach was based on the need to consider traffic management on both sides of the border rather than Gibraltar taking in more vehicles.

“We have to think of it as across border because we cannot afford to have all these cars coming into Gibraltar and therefore, we have to work with them to try,” he said.

The ministry also aims to encourage people to leave their cars across the border and travel into Gibraltar by foot or public transport.

Dr Cortes said Gibraltar would work with authorities in La Línea on signposting and QR codes to provide information on parking options.

The aim would be to encourage people to leave their cars in Spain and enter Gibraltar on foot and then "use taxis, use buses or just walk".

Dr Cortes said the work was ongoing and that discussions and planning of different potential options were taking place before decisions could be finalised.

“Things have to be developed, have to be discussed, have to be planned, have to be funded, but we're not sitting pretty.”

“We're doing all this work… but we're not issuing press releases on every meeting I have.”

“People can't assume that if we don't say we're doing it, that we're not doing it.”