Airlines’ outlandish call to reduce Spanish airport charges met with reality check from ACI EUROPE
A recent proposal by airline groups to cut Spanish airport charges by 22% over the next five years has drawn a firm rebuttal from ACI EUROPE.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Spanish Airline Association have urged regulators to mandate steep reductions in charges imposed by AENA, arguing that lower fees would boost competitiveness and stimulate the market. Their position notably diverges from AENA’s proposed framework, under which charges would increase by an average of 3.8% annually between 2027 and 2031 (amounting to an increase of 43 cents per passenger) to support a €13 billion investment plan to modernise and expand airport infrastructure.
ACI EUROPE rejected the airlines’ call as detached from market and economic fundamentals. The association pointed out that over the past decade (2015–2025) the charges airlines pay at AENA airports fell by about 7% in nominal terms and by roughly 36% in real terms. Yet during the same period, airfares in Spain increased by roughly 40%, demonstrating that reductions in airport charges do not automatically translate into lower passenger fares.
ACI EUROPE stressed that airlines’ push for cuts appears aimed primarily at protecting their own financial performance rather than benefiting consumers. It noted that AENA’s investment programme is crucial to securing capacity, connectivity and quality infrastructure and cannot be delivered without a fair adjustment of user charges that reflects inflationary and capital cost pressures.
ACI EUROPE also challenged the traffic growth assumptions underpinning the airlines’ proposals. While industry forecasts estimate passenger volumes could grow by around 3.6% annually to 2031, AENA’s more conservative growth projection of roughly 1.3% reflects capacity constraints, supply chain bottlenecks and broader structural changes in travel demand.
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