Andorra awards €19.5 million to Chalair to maintain flights to six European destinations

The Government of Andorra has officially awarded €19,502,117 to French airline Chalair Aviation to maintain scheduled flights between Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport and six destinations in Spain and France over the next four years.

The contract, approved on 28 October 2026 and published in the Official Gazette of the Principality of Andorra (BOPA), establishes a public financial contribution to support air routes connecting Andorra with Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Paris-Orly, Nantes, Nice and Lyon.

The agreement will run for four years, from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030, with the possibility of a two-year extension subject to government authorisation.

Andorra's State Secretariat for Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility was responsible for managing the award procedure, which was conducted through a public competitive process.

Andorra to spend nearly €5 million annually on Chalair flights

The financial contribution approved by the Andorran Government will be distributed over four years, with maximum amounts established for each financial year.

The public funding schedule is as follows:

• 2027: €4,741,564.

• 2028: €4,936,920.

• 2029: €4,905,075.

• 2030: €4,918,558.

In total, the Government has committed €19.5 million in public funding, representing an average of approximately €4.88 million per year to support scheduled air services at the airport serving the Principality.

The official award notice explicitly states that the approved amounts cannot be increased, meaning Chalair Aviation will not be entitled to upward adjustments beyond the maximum contributions established in the agreement.

This represents a significant financial commitment by the Andorran authorities to maintain international air connectivity over the four-year period.

Six air routes connecting Andorra with Spain and France

The public funding will support a network of scheduled flights operating from Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport, located in neighbouring Spain.

The six destinations covered by the agreement are Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Paris-Orly, Nantes, Nice and Lyon.

These routes form part of the Government's broader strategy to improve Andorra's international accessibility, facilitate travel for residents and encourage tourism.

The connections are also intended to reduce dependence on road travel to major airports in Catalonia and southern France.

Chalair Aviation will receive the public contribution throughout the 2027–2030 contract period, subject to the conditions established in the official award.

The airline's services are intended to strengthen the Principality's links with key Spanish and French cities, providing additional transport options for residents, businesses and international visitors.

Flights in 2029 and 2030 depend on a new agreement with Catalonia

One of the most significant conditions attached to the contract concerns the final two years of the funding programme.

According to the official notice, the financial commitments for 2029 and 2030 are conditional on the signing of a new agreement with the Government of Catalonia.

The agreement must ensure the continuation of the existing joint management framework governing Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport.

This means that although the Andorran Government has awarded a four-year financial contribution, public funding for the final two years will depend on renewed institutional cooperation with Catalonia.

The BOPA specifies that this requirement may also be satisfied through an equivalent legal instrument capable of preserving the airport's joint management arrangements.

As a result, while the contract provides for funding through December 2030, part of the future financial commitment remains subject to an institutional agreement that has yet to be formalised.

€19.5 million in public funding to secure Andorra's air connectivity

The award to Chalair Aviation represents a major financial investment by the Andorran Government in the future of the country's air connections.

By allocating almost €20 million in public funds over four years, the authorities aim to maintain a network of scheduled international flights serving the Principality.

The scale of the contribution also highlights the importance of government financial support in sustaining commercial air routes from Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport.

The long-term continuity of these connections will depend on compliance with the contract's conditions and the preservation of institutional cooperation between Andorra and Catalonia.