The health club at the El Prat airport in Barcelona, Spain has been taken over by by former Fitness First executive Rod Hill following a deal with World Trade Center.

World Trade Center, which operates the business centre and airport lounges at El Prat, built the gym in terminal 1 of the airport when it opened in 2009.

The 450sq m, equipped by Technogym, was launched under the Air Fitness brand, targeting an executive market with a monthly membership of €35.

Hill, who took over operation of the site in November 2011, has maintained

the Air Fitness brand but has lowered the price to €19.90 a month in a bid to appeal to the 20,000 workers employed at the airport. Pay as yougo options are also available for those transiting the airport.

"The aim is to create an affordable corporate gym," he said.

Thee gym, which offers 24-hour access, will now introduce personal training and group exercise classes - gym-based circuits, for example, and group cycling.

Further investment in equipment is likely. Seminars are also being considered - nutrition, the benefits of exercise, and so on - as well as bespoke workout programmes for specific job roles such as baggage handlers.

Madrid Barajas airport, where the business lounge is also operated by World

Trade Center, has already expressed an interest in a new-build gym should this first project in Barcelona prove successful.