News from The Barcelona Reporter that La Seu d’Urgell airport will be open again soon - there is a possibilty that some small commercial aircraft might start running a service - and being just a fifteen minute drive from Andorra this could potentially be good news for Andorra property owners:

The airport in La Seu d’Urgell will reopen before the summer, once the work being carried out on the runway and terminal building and control tower have been completed, confirmed the mayor of the town and the CiU candidate for Lleida, Albert Batalla.

In an interview with Europa Press, he said the aim is “to bring back the installation on the flight map” of Catalonia, and work in developing the long term plan, which should determine the feasibility of converting the airfield in the airport and define the actions that need to be implemented medium to long term.

It was October 2009 when the Regional Department of Territorial Policy and Public Works awarded 1.9 million for works to condition the bed of the runway, 1,340 meters long and 28 wide, the service building, signalling and improving management centres.

The airfield was opened in 1982 and operated until 1984 when the last commercial flight operated. Then it was used for sport and general aviation until it closed for security reasons. According to Battle, the installation will not aspire to be a major airport, but a reference airfield to enable them to trade and can be complementary to the recently opened Lleida-Alguaire airport.

“The flights arriving in La Seu may be fewer but will provide more quality,” said Battle.
In particular, the airport is to house small-format commercial flights, flights for safety - for emergencies and fire fighting - and sport.

In his view, Catalunya could also seek partnerships with Andorra, however if Barcelona wins the bid to host the Winter Olympics 2022 he recalled that it is impossible that Andorra can be co-organizer of the event because they impede the rules of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

However, he recalled that La Seu has a close link with Nordic skiing - it has the presidency of the pooling of cross-country trails and the National Centre for modernization of this specialty - and Olympic experience and the major organizer for competitions. “It’s a great opportunity to put the Pyrenees on the map” said Battle, who stressed that the Games would improve the infrastructure for the area, in roads, rail and in relation to digital communications.

For information about 2011 ski holidays for Andorra plus French ski holidays visit yourandorra.com

Visitors for Andorra who are considering buying a property and taking residency often stop off in Barcelona if their flight arrival is late in the evening, and the Independent Newspaper in the UK recently reviewed one of the new hotels in Barcelona - here’s an extract:

There is a flavour of the city as soon as you enter the seven-story lobby: two marble sculptures, reminiscent of Gaudí’s contorted Casa Milà roof statues, stand sentry to one side of the door.

The lobby stretches skywards, but laterally too, into the lounge and bar, the Wave restaurant, and beyond the glass doors on to the “Wet Deck” or pool area. Here you’ll find scattered white parasols, cabañas and loungers set around a bracingly cool pool, with a bar at one end and the beach just below.

Bofill’s aim was for the Mediterranean to be the primary focus of his building. Up on the 26th-floor Eclipse bar, the sea views are bewitching.

The hotel’s interiors create the sensation of being underwater. Neutral tones give the appearance of sand, and there are meandering giant seaweeds preserved in frosted glass walls. The Bliss spa, meanwhile, is bright and white, with the brand’s signature touch of a sushi-style conveyor belt at the nail bar.

To read the full article click here

For details of Andorra property for sale and residency visit propertyandorra.com