The Board of Directors of Aena approved an incentive package for the 32 airports and heliports that had fewer than 3 million passengers in 2023. This decision encompasses locations such as Asturias, Girona-Costa Brava, La Palma, Vigo, and Reus, among others.
Thus, airlines will be exempt – for three years – from paying the passenger fee for all those additional travelers beyond those of 2023. In addition, the incentives installed during the volcano crisis at La Palma Airport will remain in effect. Incentives for opening routes to destinations in airports with more than 3 million passengers will be extended until March 2027. Furthermore, growth in routes to Asia will be encouraged. Airlines will also receive discounts for operating during the low season at airports in the Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
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Aena has consistently lowered its fees since 2015. From that date, costs have decreased by 11%, while inflation was 21%. Thus, in real terms, these fees have decreased by 32% between 2015 and 2023. Aena’s fee system, along with commercial revenues, facilitates the necessary investments for the safety and quality of airports. Between 2022 and 2026, Aena plans to invest approximately 3 billion euros in infrastructure, all from its own resources.
The airports of Aena are among the most competitive in Europe, with an average total fee of around 10 euros per passenger, before considering the approved incentive package. These airport fees are one of the key factors that make Spain the country with the highest number of operations in Europe, according to Eurocontrol data. In 2023, Aena’s network served a record number of passengers, and preliminary data for the summer season of 2024 indicate that airlines are once again planning to surpass this record.
