In a high-stakes confrontation, Ryanair, the leading carrier in Spain, clashes with Aena, the operator of the nation’s airport network, over a proposed airport tax increase. Aena has suggested raising the charges airlines pay to access Spanish airports by 4.09% starting next March. The Ministry of Transport has signaled support for the rise as it awaits formal approval. Airlines have pushed back publicly, with Ryanair taking a prominent stance against the measure.
Ryanair lays out a bold growth plan to cement its position as Spain’s top airline. The strategy aims to grow from about 55 million passengers today to 77 million by 2040, backed by a 5 billion euro investment. The plan envisions 33 new aircraft operating from Spanish airports, the opening of five new bases, and an increase in routes from the current 730 to more than 1,000 by the end of the decade. The expansion would intensify in the next few years as Ryanair seeks to capture more regional traffic and broaden its footprint across Spain.
During remarks at a tourism innovation forum in Madrid, Ryanair’s chief executive spoke about the expansion tempo and the role of airport costs in their growth calculus. He noted that if charges at Spanish airports rise, the airline may consider other destinations with competitive costs. Aena has countered that any expansion must be anchored by competitive airport pricing to attract additional traffic and sustain investments. The airline’s leadership also highlighted that a substantial order book for new aircraft would require a favorable cost environment to translate into real expansion within Spain. The question, according to Ryanair’s leadership, is how many of those aircraft will serve Spain as part of the broader plan.
Ryanair has argued that incentives tied to airport taxes and other transport charges could underwrite the planned investments. The airline contends that decisions about network expansion rest on total cost of operation. If costs rise, Ryanair may redirect capacity to other destinations, unless Spain demonstrates a cost structure that remains competitive and supports its traffic growth goals.
The airline has signaled potential openings for new bases at regional airports such as Valladolid, Vigo, Asturias, Santander, and Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz). Ryanair emphasized its aim to distribute more flight activity across Spanish regions through year-round operations. The expansion plan assumes airport tariffs will be held steady through the 2026/2027 season, enabling predictable planning for future growth.
Aena Defends the Tariff Increase
Maurici Lucena, president of Aena, responded to Ryanair’s criticisms by defending the tariff proposal as essential to funding the capacity expansion required by the airport network in the coming years. He pointed out that the group maintains a mixed ownership structure, with the state holding a controlling stake through Enaire and private investors owning the remainder, and he stressed the need to guarantee reasonable profitability for shareholders while pursuing growth.
Lucena argued that the tariff model must be sustainable and noted a downward trend in rates over the past decade. He highlighted that rates declined by 11% between 2015 and 2023, even as inflation in Spain rose by about 21%, effectively reducing real charges by roughly 32% over that period. If the proposed 4.09% increase is approved, rates in 2024 would still sit below the pre-pandemic 2019 level despite inflation running higher, according to the executive’s assessment. Aena has reported record passenger numbers at its Spanish airports, with 283 million travelers recorded last year, and it sees room for further growth before the total capacity reaches 350 million. He warned that major hubs like Madrid and Barcelona are nearing their capacity limits and stressed the need to accelerate investments to match demand. He closed by reaffirming the intention to defend the company’s investment plan and the pace of expansion, arguing that tariffs must align with the aggressive investment schedule to ensure profitability for all stakeholders, including Ryanair’s investors. [Cite: Aena leadership briefing]