Andorra Receives Two Bids for Airport Flights to Madrid, Palma, Paris

Andorra's government has received two bids for operating flights from Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport to Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, and Paris, from a French airline and Andorra Aviation Group partnering with a European carrier.

The tender closed at midday on Friday, with proposals scheduled for opening on Monday. Officials plan to assess documentation against requirements, aiming to finalize evaluations next week and award the contract at the 30 September council of ministers meeting. Services will start on 1 January 2027 under a four-year deal, extendable by two years, with no interruption to existing routes.

Bidders must commit to at least 1,400 annual flight hours using aircraft with 48 or more seats, including a minimum of two weekly flights year-round to each destination. The agreement caps annual government funding at €5 million, adjusted quarterly by flight volume, destinations, ticket prices, and passenger numbers, while allowing extra routes.

Air Nostrum, which has operated Madrid flights since December 2021 and added Palma from 5 January 2024, chose not to bid. The Spanish carrier, focused on eastern and southern Spain, cited the new Paris route—likely to Orly or Charles de Gaulle—as adding unmanageable operational complexity. It aimed to maintain its network-wide service quality but said its current setup could not accommodate Andorra's demands.

Commercial flight activity has grown steadily: 10 operations in 2021, 196 in 2022, 170 in 2023, 294 in 2024, 362 in 2025, and 231 through August 2026. The partnership faced strains, including rising incidents—four in 2024, 22 in 2025, and 38 by May 2026—mostly cancellations or diversions to Lleida-Alguaire. These prompted government warnings and discussions about contract termination, though both sides now view the collaboration positively overall. Air Nostrum's tenure ends 31 December but has not ruled out a future return.

State Secretary for Energy Transition, Transport, and Mobility David Forné had noted keen interest, with multiple tender document downloads underscoring the deal's funding appeal. The process emphasizes technical and economic suitability for dependable, expanded links.