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Flights to Spain to increase in price again as airport charges rise
AENA will propose a 4.1% hike in airline fees for Spanish airports in 2024
Some less than welcome news for travellers this week as AENA is about to announce a hike in airline fees of around 4% from March 1, 2024. This, of course, means that flights to and from Spain will become even more expensive, since airlines will have no choice but to pass on the extra cost to customers.
The 4.1% proposed increase is by no means set in stone, though. While it’s been approved by the company’s board of directors, it still needs to get the nod from the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC). The exact rate rise will likely be announced in the next few days.
In theory, the rates for airlines are supposed to be frozen until 2026 given the financial climate, but the law does allow Aena to pass on any extraordinary costs that are out of their control. In this case, one of the main reasons behind the decision is the increase in energy and fuel costs in recent months, as well as record-breaking demand for flights.
Unsurprisingly, the airlines are dead against the move, instead arguing that rates should be reduced for the very same reasons. The Association of Airlines (ALA) insists that Aena has plenty of breathing space given the profits it’s recording and has asked the company to opt for more competitive charges "to facilitate the recovery of commercial aviation" which is still "very impacted by the high debt" that many airlines racked up during the pandemic.
Spanish airports registered close to 130 million passengers in the first half of 2023, 23.4% more than last year, and president of Aena Maurici Lucena believes that, when the official data is released, July could prove to be one of the best months ever for airlines.
Image: Aena
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