Ryanair has filed an appeal against Aena's plan to raise airport charges in Spain by 4.09% in 2024, warning that it could threaten the country's tourism industry. In a statement, Ryanair has urged the Spanish Council of Ministers and Spain's National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) to respect the 2021 ruling that applied a 5-year freeze on airport charges, noting its positive impact on rebuilding Spain's aviation and tourism industries following the pandemic.
The airline further went on to attribute its 12% growth in Spain due to charge freeze and warned that raising the price could have an inverse effect.
As per a policy ruled in 2021 by Madrid, Spain’s airport charges have remained comparatively low with fees dropping 3.17% in 2022 despite a surge in inflation. The proposed change would raise airport fees by 4.09% in March 2024, increasing from €9.95 to €10.35 due to rising costs.
Commenting on the case, Eddie Wilson, chief executive officer, Ryanair said: “If Aena are allowed to proceed with this charge increase, this will mean airport charges will rise at every airport in Spain, including peripheral island regions like the Canaries and Balearics, where air connectivity is essential for local communities. In a single move, Aena is seeking to undo all the good work to date to recover vital air connectivity.”
Meanwhile airport operator, Aena has dismissed these concerns. Speaking to Travel Weekly, a spokesperson for Aena said: “The airport fees are not a relevant factor in airline ticket pricing owed to ticket costs between 2022 and 2023 despite the cap. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Aena deployed a series of commercial incentives to airlines in order to stimulate the recovery of traffic, which from July 2020 to March 2023 have meant discounts on airport charges of €125 million.”