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Barcelona airport on a single runway from 16 to 26 November 2026: about 1,400 slots cut

Published · VolClaim

From 16 to 26 November 2026, Barcelona-El Prat airport will operate with a single runway while works are carried out on its cross runway. According to the airport operator Aena, 1,441 flight slots will not be operated over the period, around 15% of capacity. Flights between France and Barcelona, among the busiest routes from Paris, Lyon, Nantes and Toulouse, may be affected.

What is planned at El Prat

Aena is building a new rapid exit taxiway on cross runway 02/20 at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport. The project, budgeted at 3.1 million euros, is expected to last about twelve and a half months and is mostly carried out at night.

The first phase is the most restrictive. According to Aena's press release of 18 September 2026, runways 02/20 and 06L/24R will be closed from 16 to 26 November. All traffic will then use runway 06R/24L alone, the one nearest the sea, which is also the shortest. Aena said back in November 2025 that around forty aircraft would need to adjust their load to take off from it.

Around 15% less capacity

Over these eleven days, Aena announces 1,441 fewer slots, about 15% of the airport's capacity. The operator says the closures were coordinated in advance with airlines and slot coordinators, who had the schedule early enough to plan their programmes.

Aena has not published any list of airlines or flights affected. As of 25 October, airlines had not publicly released detailed schedules for the period: flights may be cancelled, merged or retimed, and delays remain possible at peak times.

What it means for you

If you are flying to or from Barcelona between 16 and 26 November, check your flight status and your airline's messages regularly, especially if you have a tight connection. Keep your boarding pass and receipts for meals or a hotel if you are left waiting.

A cancelled flight always gives you the choice between a refund and rerouting. Compensation of 250 to 600 euros mainly depends on notice: in principle, a cancellation announced less than 14 days before departure, or an arrival delay of 3 hours or more, can qualify. As the works were announced well in advance, each case is assessed on its own facts.

Frequently asked questions

Will my Paris to Barcelona flight on 20 November be cancelled?

Not necessarily. Aena announces around 15% fewer slots but does not name any flight. Your airline must tell you about any change, so keep an eye on its messages.

Can I get compensation if my Barcelona flight is cancelled?

Possibly, if the cancellation is announced less than 14 days before departure or you arrive 3 hours late or more. VolClaim checks your eligibility for free.

Sources

  1. Nota de prensa : obras de la nueva salida rápida en la pista 02/20 del aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat — Aena (18 septembre 2026)
  2. Aena construirá una nueva salida rápida en la pista 02/20 del Aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat — Aena (24 novembre 2025)

News written by the VolClaim editorial team, a service operated by TETRIS GROUP LLC, based on the sources cited. Information may change: always check your flight status with the airline.

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