The Ministry of Industry has commissioned a study to evaluate eight plots in the metropolitan area of Seville, due to the saturation of the Aerópolis technology park in La Rinconada. The analysis, which will be ready in October, aims to address the growing demand for land from the aerospace sector.
The aerospace sector in Seville needs space to continue soaring high. The Andalusian Government has initiated a study to analyse eight possible sites in the province of Seville to expand the industrial area dedicated to this key industry. The goal is to relieve the pressure on the Aerópolis technology park, located in La Rinconada, which can no longer accommodate new companies.
The Ministry of University, Industry, Energy and Innovation, led by Jorge Paradela, has commissioned this work to understand the real needs of each company and the advantages of the different plots before settling on a single growth formula. “Needs are not always homogeneous,” warned the minister, who cited the recent establishment of Swiss manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft in Carmona as an example.
A park at the limit of its capacity
Aerópolis is currently the nerve centre of the Andalusian aerospace sector. With 56 hectares, over 80 companies, a combined turnover of 1.161 billion euros, and 5.104 direct jobs, its companies account for 60% of the aerospace fabric of the region. However, the expansion of projects linked to the fleet renewal programmes of Airbus and Boeing, as well as the increase in defence spending committed by NATO, are driving up the demand for industrial space across the metropolitan area of Seville.
“Of the aerospace firms based in the province of Seville, almost 50% are not in Aerópolis,” emphasised Paradela. This figure explains why the Government does not want to limit itself to an expansion of the La Rinconada park, but prefers to explore a broader range of locations in the metropolitan ring.
Eight alternatives on the table
Paradela's department is working with an initial range of eight possible plots. Among them, the expansion of Aerópolis in La Rinconada is not ruled out, but land in Alcalá de Guadaíra, Carmona, the capital Seville, and other points in the province are also being considered. The analysis, which is expected to be ready in October 2026, will evaluate criteria such as the availability of electrical power, road and rail connections, and the existence of complementary infrastructures.
The figure that summarises the challenge: almost half of the aerospace companies in Seville already operate outside of Aerópolis, which forces the Government to seek solutions beyond the limits of La Rinconada.
The experience of Pilatus Aircraft has been key in designing the methodology of the study. The Swiss company chose Carmona because, in addition to quality industrial land, they were guaranteed a robust electricity supply. “Ensuring not only land but also the necessary energy capacity was crucial,” the minister recalled. Therefore, the Government wants to replicate that model of analysis in the eight possible destinations before committing to specific investments.
At the same time, the Ministry is maintaining contacts with the involved municipalities to understand their willingness to cede land or expedite urban planning processes. The goal is clear: not to miss any industrial opportunity at a time when competition among regions to attract aerospace investments is particularly intense.
A sector taking off and needing a runway
Andalusia has established itself as the main aerospace hub in southern Europe, thanks, among other reasons, to the presence of the final assembly line for the A400M in Seville and the long tradition of the auxiliary industry. In fact, the sector already represents nearly 2% of the regional GDP and generates more than 14,000 direct jobs across the community. With this land expansion, the Andalusian Government aims not only to retain existing companies but also to attract new projects that could settle in other regions if they do not find suitable conditions here.
For the citizens of Seville, the advancement has a very concrete value: it translates into stable, highly qualified jobs. Each new logistics centre or aerospace machining plant means dozens of jobs in municipalities like Alcalá de Guadaíra or Carmona, where average income is lower than in the capital but access to large industry is limited. Moreover, decentralising growth towards other localities can alleviate the real estate and mobility pressure that La Rinconada is experiencing.
The outlook is promising. If the October study confirms the viability of several sites, the Government could tender the first actions in early 2027, coinciding with the acceleration of orders for commercial and defence aircraft. Andalusia now has the opportunity to strengthen its industrial leadership; the key will be getting the land map right so that no company is left without a place to grow.
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