On the 3rd of June a British plane tested the new airport in Lérida, which the promoters of Gran Scala, the ILD, are hoping to use as a hub to bring in the many tourists to fill the mega project. It seems it was a succesful test although the airport will still have to be await approval by the Spanish Air Traffic authorities before being fully functional.

Lérida airport would be almost exactly one hour away from Ontiñena, where the ILD has bought land rights to establish the complex, which at the latest estimate would be due to open in 2012.

Meanwhile the new law being pushed through the Aragonese government continues to get delayed, although the expectation is that it may be signed before the summer is over. The law which governs all mega proyects of this nature is clearly seen as being tailor made to this project, and will require some further serious commitments by the ILD.

For one thing the law is expected to require at least 90% of the land to be assured before the licence for the project can be granted. The ILD currently has rights over some 1,000 hectares with another 300 to be signed shortly, but this remains somme way off the 90% figure if you consider that the project will require between 2,400 and 2,800 hectares in total.

However the town hall of Ontiñena is behind the project and has already promised some further 1,000 hectares of public land.

Other requirements for the ILD will be to create at least 3,000 jobs and 8,000 hotel rooms. A small part of what the ILD promises to achieve but no small feat in itself. Watch this space...