Gibraltar flights resume
The first flights between Spain and Gibraltar landed earlier today, ending decades of isolation for the British territory.
Junior Spanish foreign minister Bernardino Leon flew on the Iberia flight from Spain into Gibraltar’s airport, which caused traffic jams when it landed at 13:00 GMT as the town’s main road runs across the territory’s only runway.
Mr Leon was met by Gibraltar dignitaries, including chief minister Peter Caruana, to mark the historic occasion. After fascist dictator general Francisco Franco closed the border between the two countries in 1969 flights between the two states became extremely limited and had ceased completely ten years later.
“This is extremely important. It opens possibilities for the citizens of this area. It’s an agreement in which everyone wins,” Mr Leon said, having disembarked from the aircraft.
Europe minister Geoff Hoon also responded positively to today’s flights. “I warmly welcome the start of regular scheduled air services between Gibraltar and Madrid for the first time since 1979,” he said.
“This is a tangible sign of progress being made under the Cordoba agreements – progress that will bring real benefits to the people of Gibraltar,” Mr Hoon added, referring to the accords reached in September allowing today’s event to take place.
Although Spain has not relinquished its claims over the territory it has agreed to address more practical issues in order to win the residents’ support; the vast majority of Gibraltar’s population support remaining under British sovereignty.
Officials are considering building a tunnel underneath the runway in order to improve the territory’s limited infrastructure.
