The connections between Mallorca and Menorca have become a growing concern for Menorca’s business community. The Confederation of Business Associations of the Balearic Islands (CAEB) in Menorca warns that traveling between the two islands is now “more expensive, more complicated and less predictable” than just one year ago, a situation that, in their view, is beginning to have direct consequences for the archipelago’s competitiveness, economic activity, and territorial cohesion.
The business organization is calling on AENA and the General Directorate of Mobility of the Government of the Balearic Islands to intervene to address a problem that goes beyond the scope of transportation. In a geographically fragmented region, air connections are not just a matter of mobility, but an essential piece of infrastructure for accessing services, professional opportunities, and economic activity.
For thousands of residents, the route between Menorca and Mallorca is a strategic link for attending work meetings, studying, receiving specialized healthcare, or carrying out administrative procedures. However, according to the CAEB, the cost of these trips has skyrocketed. While a year ago it was common to find tickets for residents priced between 45 and 50 euros, prices now often range from 70 to 75 euros, a 50 percent increase. “We’re talking about average increases of about 50 percent,” complains the business association.
The impact is not limited to residents. The business organization emphasizes that the situation also affects visitors, professionals, and business travelers who use Mallorca as their main hub for connections with the rest of the world. In some cases, the trip between Mallorca and Menorca can cost up to 280 euros for non-residents, a figure that, according to business leaders, makes it difficult to promote the archipelago as a cohesive and competitive destination.
In addition to price pressure, there are also availability and operational issues that complicate trip planning. This situation affects businesses, students, workers, and sports organizations, and introduces a certain degree of uncertainty into an economy increasingly dependent on connectivity.
The business organization also highlights an opportunity it considers underutilized: inter-island tourism. Business leaders point out that whenever connections have been accessible and competitively priced, demand has responded positively. The ability to combine cultural, gastronomic, and heritage experiences across the islands offers a way to diversify tourism, reduce seasonality, and generate economic activity year-round. However, they warn that it is difficult to boost this market when the cost of transportation becomes a barrier to entry.
In this context, CAEB is once again bringing the debate on airport governance to the forefront. The business organization advocates for the co-management of the airports in the Balearic Islands so that the autonomous community can participate in the planning and decision-making regarding the infrastructure it considers strategic for the islands’ economic development.
“Connectivity is not just a matter of transportation,” say representatives of the business association. “It’s a matter of competitiveness, access to opportunities, and territorial cohesion.” This assessment is becoming increasingly relevant in an archipelago where mobility drives much of the economic activity.
