Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed outrage at the recent remarks from Maurici Lucena, Chairman and CEO of AENA, the operator of the vast majority of airports in Spain, suggesting that airlines calling for airport charges reductions were "compromising safety and security."
"Safety is the number one priority of airlines and the whole aviation industry. That the Chairman of AENA would misunderstand this is yet another indication that he is isolated from the fundamental realities of aviation—including both safety and economics. The legitimate concern of airlines for cost-efficient airport charges is in no way related to any compromise on the safety and security of passengers and aviation employees. Such scaremongering is highly inappropriate and shows the flimsy grounds AENA have for justifying their request for a 16% charges increase," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
Safe, efficient, and affordable air connectivity is the responsibility of every player in the aviation value chain—airlines and airports included. Airlines do not seek "excessively cheap infrastructure" (as claimed by Lucena), nor do they underestimate the importance of safety and security in pursuit of this common responsibility.
"Airlines have consistently called for airport charges to reflect the reality of passenger growth, appropriate investment, and a reasonable rate of return. Airlines face rising regulatory and environmental costs, supply chain constraints, volatile fuel prices, on top of increasing airport and ATC charges. Despite these challenges, airlines have delivered ever-more affordable connectivity for Spain. Adjusting for inflation, air fares have decreased by 9% since 2019. Across the 15 largest Spanish airports, a decrease in the real airfare of 6% to 37% has occurred over the last decade. Against this backdrop, rigorous scrutiny of airport charges is not only legitimate but necessary to ensure connectivity remains affordable for consumers and sustainable for the wider economy," said Walsh.
The present reality is that over the last two regulatory periods, AENA has made EUR 1.32 billion more in returns than it should have under decisions by Spain's economic regulatory process. In 2024 AENA's regulated and non-regulated activities in Spain achieved a net profit margin of 36.4% compared to the average European airline net margin of 3.5%. Airlines operating in Spain need independent, transparent, and consultative airport regulation, in line with ICAO principles, which balances the interests of airports, airlines, passengers, and the broader economy. Productive engagement—rather than rhetoric—is the most effective way to ensure that Spain's airports continue to support growth, regional development, and high‑quality service for passengers.
IATA stands ready to work with AENA and all stakeholders to foster a collaborative approach that strengthens Spain's aviation sector for the long term.
