Andorra Approves €5M Tender for Airport Routes to Madrid, Palma and Paris

The Andorran government has approved the terms of an urgent international tender to maintain Madrid and Palma de Mallorca routes at Andorra-la Seu d'Urgell Airport while adding regular Paris flights, with a maximum annual budget of €5 million linked to operational performance.

The tender, to be published Thursday in the Official Bulletin of the Principality of Andorra (BOPA), will replace the current contract with Air Nostrum, which ends on 31 December this year. The government aims to sign the new agreement so services can start on 1 January 2027. Bids must be submitted by 7 September.

The contract requires at least 1,400 annual flight hours and mandates continuity for Madrid and Palma links, with Paris as a new core route. Airlines can propose additional destinations or schedules. Quarterly payments will depend on the winning bid's terms, including flight numbers, routes offered, and ticket prices, rather than a fixed €5 million outlay.

Presidency, Economy, Work and Housing Minister and government spokesperson Conxita Marsol detailed the plan at a press conference following Wednesday's Council of Ministers meeting. She stressed that the budget cap supports line viability without committing the full amount upfront.

Marsol confirmed ongoing monitoring of Air Nostrum, with State Secretary for Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility David Forné having met the airline and planning further discussions to minimise diversions and cancellations. She prioritised safety in such cases, noting recent government efforts to improve service reliability.

Passenger data up to 16 August showed 8,848 travellers, with Madrid flights averaging 41 occupants and Palma 36—12% above last year's full-year averages. Summer traffic on both routes rose 8-10%.