An airport project in Andorra is under study, at the initiative of the Andorran Chamber of Commerce. The airport could emerge from the ground in 2026. It would then be 10 km from the French border and near Pas-de-la-Case. The interest is evident for Andorra, which hopes to attract 500,000 passengers per year. However, this initiative does not appeal to everyone on this side of the border. The president of the association Le Chabot fears the arrival of the plane. “We are in an important phase of global warming. Building an airport in Andorra is dangerous ”, indignant Henri Delrieu. All the more so since it will be “reserved only for a certain category” of people. “There will only be a luxury clientele, probably people from the Nordic countries. And for short periods, because people will mainly come in the winter to ski, ”he continues.
The association he chairs believes that with the health crisis, “everyone should have a little wisdom and leave nature as it is”.
“Today, pollution has no borders. We have to manage to change our minds. If this airport sees the light of day, there will be dramatic consequences for all of us, ”sighs Henri Delrieu.
For the moment no decision has been taken within the association in order to try “to stop the project”. However, things are starting to move on the Andorran side, even if nothing has yet been decided on that side either. “We are in contact with Andorran and Catalan associations. They prefer much gentler means of transport than this one. If they want to take action, we will support them. “
Can the Ariège department take advantage of the airport?
Be that as it may, the construction of this airport does not only have enemies in Ariège… even if its arrival is viewed with caution. “I think that if people take the plane to Andorra, it is only to go there. For the principality, it will be good for tourism, yes ”, underlines Paul-Louis Maurat, president of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Ariège, who hope all the same that some holidaymakers will take advantage of it“ to come to the region. ‘Ariège’. But, “it’s a guess,” he adds immediately.
For his part, George Vigneau, director of the Plateau de Beille resort, does not see the Ariège ski resorts taking advantage of the Andorran airport. “In the case of Beille, we do not have suitable accommodation. For the Ax-3-Domaines station, perhaps… ”And he too is skeptical when he thinks of the repercussions for the environment. “If we are talking about an ecological side, I am not sure that the airport is positive,” he concludes.
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