Vice-President Biel Barceló, the regional minister for transport, Marc Pons, and government officials met the president of Aena yesterday. José Manuel Vargas assured the government that decisions regarding the three Balearic airports would take its views into account. The government will participate in the drawing up of the master plan for the airports' future.

Barceló told Vargas that the regional authorities are more directly aware of the airports' needs and problems. He called, and not for the first time, for co-management of the airports. This is "fundamental" because of Balearic economic dependence on the airports.

The vice-president said that the government needed to be involved with the master plan from the word go, so that the airports' objectives for the next twenty years can be plotted. He added that the national government (and therefore Aena) has guaranteed that there will not be an increase in the number of flights per hour. Barceló explained that the government had raised the need for growth in the winter but not in the summer, especially at Palma and Ibiza airports, which "cannot continue increasing". More flight seats in summer will not mean more flights per hour, and Aena has confirmed this: for this year at any rate.

The government also asked Aena to increase environmental investment to combat pollution. Current measures, it believes, are not sufficient. Use of renewable energy was a further request.

Barceló expressed his gratitude for the "receptive" attitude of Aena. Stressing the need for "fluid dialogue", he appreciated the fact that there are regular meetings at which the government is being listened to.