Airlines have rejected the proposal, arguing that AENA has consistently underestimated traffic growth and earned excessive regulated returns in previous regulatory periods.
According to the statement, actual passenger numbers between 2017-2025, excluding the two pandemic years, were on average 15.3 pc higher than projections under DORA I and DORA II.
Aena has proposed hike in the passenger fees it charges airlines to help fund investments of €13 billion, drawing criticism and a swift rejection of the plan for the period 2027 to 2031 by the carriers today.
In the response to the fees hike development, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Spanish Airline Association (ALA) have called for an annual reduction of 4.9 pc in Spanish airport charges, excluding inflation, over the five-year period from 2027-2031. They say this level is compatible with maintaining an airport investment plan of nearly EUR 10 billion over the same period while strengthening Spain’s economic competitiveness.
State-controlled Spanish airport operator AENA (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea) has already secured approval from Spain's competition watchdog to hike the maximum passenger fee by 6.5% to €0.68 this year.
Although fees can affect ticket prices, Aena said its proposed rises, which are subject to approval, may be lower at smaller Spanish airports and would remain "competitive".
The proposed fee increase amounts to €0.43 more per year between 2027 and 2031, Aena said in a statement.
National airlines association ALA rejected the proposal as unjustified, saying it was equivalent to a 3.8% rise per year.
In a press statement, IATA and ALA responded to a proposal by AENA, which operates airports in Spain, to raise airport charges by an average of 3.8 pc per year under the Third Airport Regulation Document (DORA III).
IATA says this consistent gap between forecasts and real traffic enabled AENA to generate EUR 1.3 billion in excess regulated returns, with the financial burden ultimately falling on airlines and passengers.
Rafael Schvartzman, Regional Vice President for Europe, IATA, says:
“AENA has gamed the regulatory system for years, earning millions of euros more than it should have, at the expense of passengers, airlines and the Spanish economy. This must stop."
"AENA has generated excessive returns through a creative approach to forecasting and its request for further increases is absurd. If granted, it would deliver the highest regulated return of any comparable airport operator in Europe. This is unsustainable and unrealistic, we need to see a reduction in charges.”
The lobby group called instead for a 4.9% annual reduction over the period, arguing that Aena was underestimating the projected increase in air traffic.
The carriers forecast this will rise by 3.6% a year over the period, rather than the 1.3% growth estimated by Aena.
The operator expects Spanish airports to handle up to 1.6 billion passengers between 2027 and 2031, as traffic growth moderates from the post‑pandemic rebound.
Aena plans to triple its investment from 2027 and over the next five years. At least €10 billion of that will require government authorisation.
IATA and ALA says that cutting charges would not derail AENA’s EUR 10 billion investment plans under DORA III. Studies by global consultancies Steer and CEPA project average annual passenger growth of about 3.6 pc, well above AENA’s 1.3 pc forecast, indicating that the airport operator could still fully finance its investments while earning a 6.35 pc return on capital, higher than originally envisaged under DORA II.
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