Aena continues to advance in one of the business areas outlined in its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, focusing on the development of Airport Cities. This plan aims to manage the land adjacent to airports flexibly, adapting to market and infrastructure needs.
In response to the increase in the air cargo sector, Aena’s Board of Directors has decided to activate a new phase of the Cargo Center at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. A seven-hectare plot will be put on the market, continuing the expansion of the southern zone carried out between 2016 and 2023.
According to Aena, air freight traffic has grown significantly, with an average annual increase of 5.3% between 2015 and 2023. In 2023, 1,079,676 tons of cargo were moved in Spain, 7.9% more than in 2022. In April 2024, record figures were recorded, both for the month and for the first four months of the year.
To meet this growing demand, Aena has implemented a specific Strategic Plan for air cargo, which includes improvements in management, optimization of access and circulation in cargo centers, as well as the expansion of services for carriers.
See also: Aena Spanish Airports Surpass Historic Figures, Handling Over 25 Million Passengers in April
As part of the dynamic and flexible management of the land, Aena has concluded a consultation process with the logistics sector for the development of a logistics area in Madrid. Important players such as Arcano, Bankinter Logística, Goodman, and Prologis participated in this process, confirming the high interest in the land.
Based on this exchange of knowledge, Aena will design the tender for a five-hectare plot at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport and a twenty-five-hectare plot at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
In February, Aena awarded Andino Global the surface rights to a plot to build and operate an air cargo warehouse at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. Additionally, in January, Ryanair was awarded the lease of a hangar for aircraft maintenance and painting at the same airport, with a 15-year contract.
In October of last year, Aena granted Lidl the surface rights to build a supermarket at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, with a 30-year contract. At Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, IAS Handling was awarded a warehouse with a buildable area of 2,797.20 m² to develop a multifunctional cargo terminal.
