The Málaga Airport Expansion: What It Means for Marbella

By Yaroslav Mudry April 6th, 2026 · 5m. reading time

Read more about Yaroslav

In 2025 Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport closed its best year ever: over 26.7 million passengers in 2025, a 7.4% increase on 2024. It is now Spain’s fourth-busiest airport and Andalusia’s undisputed international gateway, handling 80% of the region’s non-domestic traffic.

And it is about to nearly double in size.

At Drumelia, connectivity is one of the first things we discuss with international buyers. A beautiful villa matters less if getting to it is difficult. Here is why the Málaga Airport Expansion is one of the most consequential infrastructure stories for Marbella’s property market.

The project is part of Aena’s DORA III national infrastructure plan, with €13 billion allocated across Spain’s airport network. Málaga receives the third-largest share after Madrid-Barajas (€2.4B) and Barcelona-El Prat (€3.2B). Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente confirmed the commitment, calling it a demonstration of Aena’s dedication to Málaga’s connectivity.

The terminal area will grow from 80,000 to 140,000 square metres. Terminal 1 and the existing non-Schengen piers will be demolished and replaced with a new centralised border control pier. Security screening expands by 112%, departure passport control by 515%, and non-Schengen boarding zones by 381%. Aena has already awarded contracts worth nearly €90 million for design and works management (Euro Weekly News). Construction is expected to begin in 2028–2029 and complete by 2031, with the airport remaining fully operational throughout.

The UK Bottleneck Disappears

British buyers are consistently the largest foreign nationality purchasing property in Marbella. Post-Brexit, they travel as non-Schengen passengers — meaning longer queues, separate passport control, and limited boarding infrastructure. The expansion addresses this directly: a 515% increase in departure passport control and a 381% expansion of non-Schengen boarding zones. For the UK buyer who visits Marbella four or five times a year, this is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement — and it removes a friction point that has made some buyers hesitate.

New Route Capacity Means New Buyer Nationalities

Málaga already connects to over 130 destinations. In 2025, the airport handled 22.25 million international passengers, with the UK market leading (5.69 million), followed by Germany, the Netherlands, France and Italy. The expanded terminal creates room for airlines to add new routes — particularly to the Middle East, North America and Asia-Pacific, markets where Marbella buyer interest is growing fastest.

Direct flights from Málaga to Dubai, Riyadh or US East Coast hubs would materially change the accessibility equation for these buyer segments. The infrastructure is being built to accommodate exactly that kind of expansion.

Airport Investment Correlates with Property Value Growth

This is not speculation — it is a pattern observed globally. When major airport infrastructure improves, surrounding property markets benefit from increased accessibility, higher visitor volumes and stronger international demand. Málaga’s growth from ~20 million passengers in 2019 to nearly 27 million in 2025 has coincided with one of the strongest price appreciation periods in Marbella’s history. The Málaga Airport Expansion to 36 million capacity extends that trajectory through the end of the decade.

The “45-Minute City” Advantage Deepens

As we explored in our article Marbella: A Town You Can Walk, A City You Can Live, one of Marbella’s defining qualities is that it feels intimate yet offers the infrastructure of a much larger city. The airport is central to that equation: 45 minutes from the Golden Mile, yet connecting to 130+ international destinations. The expansion strengthens this proposition without changing what makes Marbella attractive.

The expansion timeline — design in 2026, construction from 2028–2029, completion by 2031 — means the benefits will phase in gradually. But property markets price in infrastructure improvements well before completion. The announcement itself has already factored into how institutional investors view the Costa del Sol — and it is no coincidence that projects like the Four Seasons in Río Real, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Neinor-Stoneshield joint venture are all committing capital to Marbella East, the area closest to the airport corridor.

For buyers evaluating Marbella today, the airport expansion is not a reason to buy — the lifestyle, climate, security and community are the reasons to buy. But it is a reason to feel confident that Marbella’s connectivity, already strong, will only improve.

When will the Málaga Airport expansion be completed?

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028–2029, with full completion expected by 2031. The airport will remain fully operational throughout.

How much is being invested?

€1.5 billion, making it one of Spain’s largest airport investments. It is part of Aena’s €13 billion national infrastructure plan (DORA III).

Will this affect property prices in Marbella?

Improved airport infrastructure has historically correlated with stronger property market performance. The expansion extends Málaga’s capacity to 36 million passengers, supporting continued international demand for Marbella real estate.

What changes will matter most for UK buyers?

The non-Schengen terminal area is being massively expanded — passport control capacity increases by 515% and boarding zones by 381%. This directly addresses the post-Brexit bottleneck.

How far is Marbella from Málaga Airport?

Approximately 45 minutes by car via the AP-7 motorway. See our Purchase Guide for more on getting to Marbella.

Exploring Marbella?

If connectivity is part of your decision, we can help you understand which areas offer the best balance of lifestyle, value and access. Contact us here, call +34 952 766 950 or email [email protected].

Explore current listings · See live market data · Read our Marbella guide