The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed its ‘deep indignation’ at recent statements by Spanish airport authority Aena’s president and CEO, Maurici Lucena, and has described as ‘inappropriate alarmism’ the Spanish airport operator’s suggestion that airlines are compromising air safety by calling for a reduction in fees.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh stressed that safety is the industry’s top priority and pointed out that Lucena’s words demonstrate a lack of understanding of the fundamental pillars of aviation. According to Walsh, the right of airlines to defend profitable fares is unrelated to passenger safety, and he believes that this rhetoric seeks to divert attention from the lack of technical basis for justifying a 16% increase in airport charges.
“Safety is the number one priority of the airline industry and the entire aviation sector in general. The misinterpretation by the president of Aena is yet another example of his ignorance of the fundamental pillars of aviation, both in terms of safety and economics,‘ said Willie Walsh, director general of IATA.
The airline association has argued that airlines are not looking for ’extremely cheap” infrastructure, as the president of Aena claims, but rather a cost structure that reflects the reality of the market.
IATA points out that airlines are currently facing rising regulatory and environmental costs and fuel price volatility, factors that are already putting pressure on their operating margins in a highly competitive environment. From an economic point of view, IATA has reported that Aena has generated €1.32 billion more in profits than expected in the last two regulatory periods.
In addition, the association highlights the profitability gap between the two parties: while Aena’s net profit margin in Spain reached 36.4% in 2024, the average for European airlines was only 3.5% during the same financial year. The organisation also highlights the efforts made by airlines to maintain affordable connectivity in Spain, pointing out that, after adjusting for inflation, air fares have fallen by 9% since 2019.
At the country’s 15 most important airports, this real price drop has been between 6% and 37% over the last decade, which, in IATA’s opinion, makes a rigorous and transparent study of fees even more necessary in order not to burden the economy. Finally, IATA has called for the establishment of independent and consensual airport regulation that follows ICAO principles.
The association has reiterated its willingness to engage in dialogue with Aena to promote a collaborative approach, emphasising that Spain’s growth and regional development depend on efficient connectivity and management that reconciles the interests of airports, airlines and passengers.