Passenger traffic on the Henri Coanda airport in Bucharest received a 30 percent boost after as many as 30,000 Spanish football supporters landed in the Romanian capital for the Europa League final, according to Valentin Iordache, spokesman for the Bucharest Airport company, quoted by Agerpres. The number of passengers is in line with the authorities' expectations.

“Around 25,000 to 30,000 Spaniards came to Bucharest these days. We had a 30 percent increase in the number of planes that landed and a 50 percent boost in the number of passenger arrivals, compared to a normal day. We even had to allot supplementary flight slots,” said Iordache.

Around 15,000 supporters of Atletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid teams arrived on Wednesday, the game day, with charter flights. Some 5,000 came by regular flights on Tuesday and 3,000 also by regular flights on game day.

“We have had 25 arrivals […] We will have around 50 planes parked on the second lane, that will take supporters back home tonight starting 01,50,” the spokesman explained.

The list of high level Spanish officials who arrived Bucharest today for the Europa League final, that started off with the Prince Felipe de Asturias, the heir to Spain’s throne (in picture), also includes the Madrid mayor Ana Botella and Patxi Lopez, the head of the Basque regional government, and Ignacio Gonzalez, vice-president of the Madrid Community.

Scheduled to start at 21:45 tonight at Romania’s National Arena, the football match triggered authorities to call a day off for students and close roads in different parts of the city. Most of the roads closed are near the National Arena, and near the two fan zones that have been created for the supporters of the two Spanish teams. One fan zone is in Constitutiei Square – in front of the People’s Palace, for Athletic Bilbao supporters, and the other in George Enescu Square, in front of the Romanian Athenaeum, for the other team’s fans.

The Bucharest Public Transport company RATB has increased the number of buses serving the National Arena area while metro company Metrorex has extended its schedule until 01,00 hours. Authorities have sent as many as 5,500 policemen and gendarmes on the streets before the game.

editor@romania-insider.com