The first stage of the runway works began in the summer of 1960. During this same period, installation began of a control tower. In 1962 the extension works on the runway began. In June 1964, a VHF radiogoniometer was installed in the airport control tower and further land was expropriated to extend the runway. Lighting was installed for the first time on the runway and aircraft platform. At the same time, work began on the passenger terminal building, which was built with the “provisional” classification.
On 15 July 1966 Ibiza Airport opened to international traffic and customs with 24 hour operation. This allowed the arrival of the first non-stop international flights and, in 1967, reclassification with a first class rating.
In 1971, work began to expand aircraft parking, the taxiway and the “non-regular traffic modular station”. Work on the new terminal was completed in 1973. The building, completed in 1973, was used at first as an international terminal and did not include domestic traffic until a year later. The old building was converted into an airport technical and administrative centre.
Throughout the 1970s aircraft parking was expanded, a new access to the terminal building was built and the airstrip was adapted to handle Boeing 747s. Between 1984 and 1985 the passenger terminal was completely remodelled, and the aircraft parking was expanded in 1988.
In 2002 the check-in area and waiting lounges, both for arrivals and departures, were extended, while the year 2004 saw the implementation of a new car park for hire vehicles.
Airport traffic is currently experiencing a sharp increase which is having a very positive effect on the economic development of the island.
