The government is moving forward with a plan to adjust airport charges, aiming to bolster the public purse with revenue generated at Alicante-Elche airport. On Thursday, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Oscar Puente, confirmed that the administration intends to honor Aena’s 2024 airport tax proposal, which would raise the charges collected from travelers. Beginning March 1, the levy would rise by 4.09 percent, translating to an increase of forty cents per passenger. In concrete terms, the current rate of €9.95 per passenger would shift to €10.35, according to Aena’s announcement. This change comes amid concerns from the tourism sector that higher fees could dampen competitiveness for the destination. Hoşbec, a representative of the Benidorm hotel association, cautioned that higher rates would likely be reflected in ticket prices for travelers (Fuster, as cited in the publication). The rate hike aligns with a year in which the airport system hit a new milestone, handling 15.7 million passengers and surpassing the 2019 record. When these new rates take effect, the total revenue generated by passengers would reach about €166 million (AENA details).
AENA pointed out that the increase is partly a response to inflation, which sits around 3.5 percent, and to the normal adjustments approved by the National Markets and Competition Commission. The expected adjustment includes the usual changes up to 4.09 percent (AENA commentary). Still, AENA argues that 2024 rates will remain below 2019 levels, maintaining a competitive standing within Europe. Airport officials described the move as part of a seasonal effort to design incentives that encourage more flights and sustain carrier activity, noting that the discussion has included a reminder that airport taxes have not climbed in four years and that the new charges would still fall beneath the 2019 figures when adjusted for inflation. The CPI has risen by about 15 percent since 2019, and officials emphasized that the increase equates to a 40-cent-per-passenger rise. It was also highlighted that Aena operates as a publicly traded company, meaning shareholders’ interests must be considered (AENA remarks).
critics
Despite assurances that the lift would be modest, opposition quickly emerged. Industry groups such as Hosbec and the Alikat Provincial Hoteliers Association (Apha) argued that any increase could hurt the destination’s competitiveness. Fuster noted that the climate of inflation is driving this decision and recalled similar charges being considered at Alicante and Valencia airports. He pointed to ongoing investments tied to the Miguel Hernández terminal, including plans for a second runway, enhanced rail connections, and improvements to the Alicante ring road. Fuster added that Castellón airport operates outside Aena’s management and would be exempt from these taxes. In related policy discussions, the Ministry of Tourism recently faced debates about a proposed tourism tax; while initial proposals met resistance, industry voices eventually helped shape the final stance (Ministry of Tourism records).
The Airlines Association (ALA) of Spain warned that even with a pre-pandemic recovery in air traffic, several carriers remain financially strained. The association stressed that the sector remains vital to the broader Spanish economy and cautioned that the announced increase would not strengthen overall aviation resilience (ALA statements).