Posted: 5 February 2026 | Gabriel Higgins | No comments yet

Aena has approved new catering contracts at Barcelona El Prat, refurbishing 48 outlets and strengthening the airport’s commercial and passenger experience strategy.

Aena’s Board of Directors has approved the awarding of a major tender for the complete renovation of restaurants and food courts at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), marking a significant milestone in the airport’s commercial development and passenger experience. 

The project covers the refurbishment and relaunch of 48 catering outlets across a total surface area of 20,500 square metres. The tender process generated strong interest from the market, attracting up to 16 local, national and international bidders. In total, 84 bids were submitted for the 48 available contracts, all of which have been successfully awarded with no vacant units.

The winning bids were submitted by nine operators: Areas, Pansfood, WDFG, SSP, Eurest, Lagardère, Enrique Tomás, Five Guys and Good News. Most of the contracts will run for eight years, with some extending to ten or twelve years in unique spaces, providing long-term stability and supporting a coherent culinary vision for the airport.

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Catering plays a central role in the passenger experience, and the new contracts are designed to deliver a balanced commercial mix. By number of outlets, Areas will operate 22 units, followed by Pansfood with 12, SSP with five, WDFG with three and Eurest with two. Lagardère, Enrique Tomás, Five Guys and Good News will each operate one outlet.

The renovation introduces 15 new brands and three operators not previously present at the airport, boosting culinary diversity and aligning the offer with evolving passenger expectations. The contracts also strengthen the airport’s business model, increasing guaranteed minimum annual income from catering by 26% compared to previous tenders, with rises of up to 31% and 32% against current contracts starting in 2026 and 2028.

María José Cuenda, Aena’s General Director for Commercial and Real Estate, said the ‘Muerde Barcelona’ project reinforces the airport’s positioning as a leading European hub, offering a diverse, innovative and contemporary culinary experience for passengers.

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Airport development, Economy, Food and Beverage (F&B), Non-aeronautical revenue, Operational efficiency, Passenger experience and seamless travel, Retail, Terminal operations, Tourism

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)

AENA

Europe

María José Cuenda