Andorra’s national heliport cleared to operate, with activity set to begin on October 15
Forné expects operations to move gradually to La Caubella by mid-November
Andorra’s national heliport has obtained the aviation permits required to operate and is set to start receiving helicopter activity on October 15.
David Forné announced the timetable during an interview on RTVA’s Trucada d’actualitat, explaining that operations would move progressively to the new facility between that date and mid-November.
Forné said he met with the concession holder and those responsible for the facility last week to discuss the launch. Activities are expected to relocate in stages over approximately one month, with the transition scheduled to run until mid-November.
Operations to begin more than three months after inauguration
The announcement comes more than three months after the official inauguration of La Caubella heliport on June 22. In August, helicopters were still operating from Terra Guindaldes, with continued noise disturbance for residents of La Massana.
International connections also face restrictions. Andorra is not part of the Schengen Area, meaning flights to France or Spain require the relevant border and customs checks.
These requirements limit services to facilities equipped to handle those procedures, preventing unrestricted direct flights to any airport or heliport.
Forné says Paris flights from Andorra-La Seu will offer better value
During the interview, Forné also argued that the new air connections with France will make travelling to Paris from Andorra-La Seu Airport cheaper than travelling via Barcelona.
He said passengers should compare the overall cost of their journey rather than the airfare alone. Reaching Barcelona Airport from Andorra means paying for fuel, tolls and parking, in addition to the flight.
In the example outlined by Forné, the total could reach €600, depending on flight times and available fares. That figure refers to the combined journey costs, rather than the airline ticket alone.
The secretary of state maintained that flying from Andorra-La Seu to Paris would offer better value by avoiding the additional journey to Barcelona.