Since May 2026, the Town of Hendaye has been increasing its efforts with French authorities to report nuisances, security concerns, and the non-compliance with the Franco-Spanish agreement regarding the Fontarrabie/San Sebastien airport. Mayor Kotte Ecenarro provides an update on the situation.
Hendaye residents regularly complain about air traffic: noise during takeoffs and landings, vibrations, low-altitude overflights, air pollution, and a degraded living environment. These long-standing concerns have intensified, particularly during the summer, leading to significant fatigue. The issue of security has become prominent, with low-altitude overflights above inhabited areas legitimately raising questions.
Although the airport falls under Spanish jurisdiction, the Town intends to make the voice of its citizens heard and maintain constant pressure on both French and Spanish authorities. The 1992 Franco-Spanish agreement, which governs the conditions for aircraft serving Fontarrabie to fly over French territory, is central to these efforts. The demand is for strict adherence to its provisions concerning movements, trajectories, and overflight conditions.
Security concerns stem particularly from the approach slope, deemed non-compliant, which forces aircraft to fly over urban areas at very low altitudes. While most movements occur on the French side, and norms recommend avoiding overflights below 300 meters, some aircraft fly over Hendaye at only 100 meters. The Town has also requested consideration for managing potential aircraft accidents, including preparing a crisis management exercise and studying a specific airport risk ORSEC plan.
Citizen mobilization has strengthened with the involvement of the association Hendaye Bidassoa Environnement and the creation in 2025 of the association Les balcons de l’Eskualduna. The latter launched a petition in 2025 that gathered 1560 signatures.
A meeting in May brought together the Prefect, the Sub-Prefect of Bayonne, representatives from the DGAC (General Directorate of Civil Aviation), the mayor of Biarritz, and the director of Biarritz Airport. The DGAC confirmed that checks have been conducted since 2025 to ensure compliance with the 1992 agreement regarding overflight altitudes, slopes, and daily movement numbers.
On August 18, 2026, the Sub-Prefect of Bayonne, Mathieu Duhamel, informed the mayor that initiatives were underway, including discussions with the South-West Civil Aviation Safety Directorate and acousticians from the Civil Aviation Technical Service for acoustic measurement campaigns to characterize the most detrimental sound events. Consultation will continue at the town hall and then in the field.
The Town awaits the meeting of the Pyrenees Intergovernmental Joint Commission to evolve the 1992 agreement, particularly concerning its environmental and security dimensions. "Security, health, air quality, noise pollution, and the quality of life for Hendaye residents are not secondary issues," emphasizes the mayor.
Security, health, air quality, noise pollution, and the quality of life for Hendaye residents are not secondary issues.
Kotte Ecenarro assures residents that their concerns are being voiced to all competent authorities, while noting that the municipality cannot resolve this complex issue alone. Cross-border cooperation must respect the population.
The mobilized associations, Hendaye Bidassoa Environnement and Eskualdunatik, request that landings and takeoffs be conducted via Spain in fair weather. In the photo, Kotte Ecenarro is surrounded by Paco Durandeau, President of Eskualdunatik, and Bernard Laville, President of Hendaye Bidassoa Environnement.
