Aena presented a new incentive program to promote air cargo traffic, aiming to increase routes and frequencies of cargo aircraft. This program will be in effect for three years and will focus on partial refunds of landing fees.
The incentive program will offer refunds on the average landing fee for arrival operations carried out with wide-body aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 191 tons. Considering the period from March 1st to February 28th, 2027, airlines will receive a refund of 75% during the first year, 50% in the second year, and 25% in the third year. Additional operations in the third year will continue to receive incentives for the following two years, provided they meet the established conditions.
This new incentive is part of the Aena Air Cargo Strategic Plan, which aims to improve infrastructures and processes for cargo transportation. «Aena is committed to the continuous improvement of the logistics chain,» stated the company.
Air cargo traffic has experienced significant growth in recent years. In 2023, Aena managed over one million tons of cargo, representing a 7.9% increase compared to the previous year. In the first five months of 2024, 502,743 tons were transported, an 18.4% increase compared to the same period last year. «May 2024 was the month with the highest cargo traffic recorded to date, with 108,380 tons transported,» reported the company.
Aena is also progressing with the Airport Cities project, which includes the development of adjacent lands for various activities. In recent months, several parcels have been awarded for projects related to cargo and aircraft maintenance. Among these, a warehouse at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport awarded to Andino Global and a hangar for Ryanair at the same airport stand out.
At Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, IAS Handling has been awarded a warehouse with a total buildable area of 2,797.20 m² to develop a multifunctional cargo terminal.
Aena considers its airports to offer a strategic position for cargo transportation between Asia and America. «Aena’s airports are a key logistics platform due to their location,» concluded the company.
This new incentive program, along with the continuous development of infrastructures, aims to support the growth of cargo traffic and improve the competitiveness of airports in Spain.