The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Spanish Airline Association (ALA) said in a statement that Spanish airport charges should be reduced by 4.9% annually until 2031, a move they argue would preserve a nearly €10 billion investment programme and enhance competitiveness.
State-controlled Spanish airport operator AENA (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea) recently proposed an annual increase in airport charges of 3.8% (excluding inflation) for the five-year period from 2027 to 2031. Previously, Ryanair already cut more than a million summer seats to Spain due to the rising fees.
For the good of travelers and the Spanish economy, airport charges must fall in 🇪🇸. Airlines are calling for a 4.9% reduction per yr for the next 5 yrs. This will still give a strong return for @aena shareholders, & allow for billions in investment.
— IATA (@IATA) February 18, 2026
👇 https://t.co/ruaz9dXyFE
IATA and ALA now seem to join Ryanair’s protest, saying AENA consistently underestimates traffic growth. According to numbers shared by the IATA in a press release, between 2017 and 2025 (excluding the two pandemic years), actual passenger traffic was on average 15.3% higher than the forecasts, allowing AENA to earn €1.3 billion in regulated returns. The associations state that these costs were borne by airlines and consumers.
“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,” said Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe.
Return on capital remains elevated
IATA and ALA thus propose a 4.9% cut in charges as a way to counterbalance the rising fees. According to the associations, this would still leave room for AENA’s €10 billion investment program, as global consultancies Steer and CEPA showed that passenger traffic would grow by around 3.6% per year on average, compared with AENA’s forecast of 1.3% annually. The return on capital for AENA would thereby amount to 6.35%.
“Es importante hacer una estimación del tráfico para saber a qué ritmo deben hacerse las inversiones y calcular cuánto cuesta mantener los aeropuertos. La previsión es que el tráfico de pasajeros alcance los 1.690 millones en el periodo 2027-2031”.
— Aena (@aena) February 18, 2026
➡️ Javier Marín,… pic.twitter.com/hYiVCeziWl
“Our proposal for a 4.9% cut in charges will improve Spain’s competitiveness as an international destination, stimulating investment and job creation across the wider economy. At the same time, AENA can still afford its €10 billion investment plan and deliver reasonable returns to its shareholders. This is a win-win for passengers, Spain, and the aviation industry. We look forward to regulators reviewing the evidence and reaching the right conclusions,” Schvartzman added.
Whether or not AENA will give in to the request and Ryanair’s protest remains unclear at the time of writing.
