A massive modernisation programme is set to bring about far-reaching changes to Spain’s airports. The supervisory board of the airport operator Aena has approved the so-called „DORA III“ programme for the years 2027 to 2031. The programme envisages investments totalling almost 13 billion euros. These are to be recouped through price increases.
Through an accompanying five-year programme, Aena aims to ensure that airports across the country are able to handle a projected passenger volume of 1.69 billion travellers. At the same time, the programme aims to improve safety standards, handling processes, intermodality and sustainability targets.
However, one key aspect of the package is controversial: Aena expects airport charges to rise by an average of 3.8 per cent annually. In practical terms, this translates to additional costs of 43 cents per passenger per flight. As a result of this increase, Ryanair has already withdrawn from many Spanish airports.
Dispute over new airport charges also in the Canary Islands
The adjustment varies depending on the airport and is lower at smaller airports. Although Aena continues to provide for bonuses and discounts specifically for the Canary Islands – for example, for domestic and inter-island flights – concrete figures have yet to be announced.
In return, investments totalling more than 800 million euros are planned for the Canary Islands, including the modernisation of Tenerife South Airport. The larger of the two airports is set to receive 550 million euros. There are also plans to expand the terminal at the North Airport in La Laguna at a cost of a further 250 million euros. César Manrique Airport on Lanzarote is also set to undergo extensive expansion and architectural redesign.
Canary Islands tourism sector fears new airport charges
Whilst Aena describes the increase as moderate and emphasises that it will enable competitive charges despite massive investment, the Canary Islands‘ tourism sector sees the situation quite differently: the regional associations FEHT and Ashotel argue that any rise in costs is immediately passed on to airfares and thus directly jeopardises the Canary Islands‘ tourism market.
As holidaymakers can only reach the Canary Islands by plane, the issue is perceived as far more sensitive than on the mainland. FEHT President José María Mañaricua points out that Aena achieved record profits last year, a large proportion of which were generated in the Canary Islands. He finds it incomprehensible why the islands are not fully exempt from the increase, particularly as the Regional Economic and Tax System provides for this possibility.
Strong criticism has also come from international airlines. They claim that Aena has for years been systematically underestimating actual traffic growth, resulting in charges that are higher than necessary. Ryanair’s chief executive, Eddie Wilson, was particularly outspoken, saying that this posed a threat to the competitiveness of the entire Spanish tourism sector.
Aenas’s chairman, Maurici Lucena, in turn, rejected the criticism levelled at his company and emphasised that the 43-cent surcharge was minimal in relation to the planned improvements.
The plan is now under review by the Directorate-General for Civil Aviation and the National Commission for Markets and Competition. The Council of Ministers must decide by September at the latest whether DORA III will finally come into force.
The wide-ranging measures – ranging from terminal extensions and modernised security checks to sustainable energy projects such as new photovoltaic systems – are intended to ensure that airports continue to fulfil their role as hubs for mobility and economic development in the long term.
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