Spain's Airports Head for Record Winter After Record Summer, Amidst Fee Increase
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Spain's Aena airport network is preparing for a winter season with an unprecedented number of available seats, following a summer that broke records for passenger traffic and operations. According to preliminary data as of August 31, airlines have scheduled 2.1% more seats for the period running from October 26, 2025, to March 28, 2026.
This optimistic forecast follows a summer of remarkable performance. As Aena reported in a statement, between June 1 and August 24, Spanish airports handled over 89 million passengers, a 3.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Operations also grew by 3.8% to 722,637 movements, while total commercial cargo transported increased by 6.0%.
A High-Performance Summer
Growth during the summer months was driven by strong demand from key international markets. The United Kingdom led the way with a 3.6% increase, followed by Italy at 7.0%, France at 1.3%, and Germany at 0.4%.
The airport operator attributes the operational success and lack of significant incidents to a series of reinforcement measures implemented at the start of the season. These actions focused on critical areas such as passenger security checkpoints, information services, cleaning, and coordination with airlines, ground handling agents, and State Security Forces.
Future Investments and Tariff Update
In parallel with traffic growth, Aena announced it is finalizing the design of an investment plan, described by the company as "the largest for its airports in recent decades," aimed at adapting its infrastructure to future demand.
To support this plan and adjust costs, the company approved an update to its airport tariffs effective March 2026, which translated into fierce criticism from the airline sector. The Maximum Annual Revenue per passenger will be set at €11.03, an increase of €0.68 per passenger compared to 2025. The measure is still pending review by the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC).
According to Aena, its tariffs remain below those of other European operators, and the adjustment represents a minor component in the final price of airline tickets and travel packages.
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