{"id":449491,"date":"2025-09-25T03:47:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T03:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/449491\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T03:47:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T03:47:14","slug":"spain-announces-historic-investment-in-airport-infrastructure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/449491\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain announces \u201chistoric\u201d investment in airport infrastructure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spain\u2019s state airport operator Aena announced a four-year, almost \u20ac13 billion investment plan intended to transform its airports and cater to growing passenger numbers in what is now the second-most visited country in the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The \u201chistoric\u201d investment of \u20ac12.88 billion for the 2027-2031 period is significantly more than the $3.54 billion allocated over the budget period ending in 2026. Around \u20ac1.5 billion will go towards sustainability developments to help Spain hit its zero emissions targets by 2030, almost two decades ahead of wider sector goals.<\/p>\n

However, the majority of the money will be spent on Madrid-Barajas (\u20ac4 billion) and Barcelona-El Prat ($3 billion), as well as other airports that serve the tourist industry, such as M\u00e1laga\u00a0Airport (\u20ac1.5 billion), Alicante (\u20ac1.154 billion) and $800 million shared between Tenerife North and South, with \u20ac2.4 billion left for the other 40 AENA-operated airports.<\/p>\n

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Aena propondr\u00e1 inversiones por unos 13.000 millones para los aeropuertos en Espa\u00f1a \ud83d\udeeb \ud83d\udeec.<\/p>\n

\u25aa\ufe0f El Gobierno de Espa\u00f1a, principal accionista de la empresa aeroportuaria, respalda la propuesta de plan de inversiones del periodo 2027-2031
\u25aa\ufe0fSe trata del mayor volumen de inversiones\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Ygcq0EIiC6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Aena (@aena) September 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Explaining the allocation, AENA president, Maurici Lucena, said: \u201cMadrid and Barcelona airports are close to capacity and need a new wave of investment. They are very full.\u201d He also noted the improvements would be funded mostly through the fees airports charge to airlines \u2013 levies that have provoked bitter clashes between some carriers, notably Ryanair, and Spanish authorities.<\/p>\n

Plans to raise those airport fees by 6.5% in 2026 have led Ryanair to withdraw<\/a> from three Spanish airports over the winter season, as well as cutting overall seat capacity to Spanish destinations. Other airlines such as Vueling, Binter, and Wizz have since announced an increase in seat capacity<\/a> to take advantage of the shortfall.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Spanish President Pedro S\u00e1nchez has described the move as \u201cmuch more than an investment proposal for 2027-2031; it\u2019s the strategy that will allow us to continue modernising our airports, providing them with everything they need to adapt to demand.\u201d<\/p>\n

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La propuesta de Plan de Inversiones de @aena<\/a> 2027-2031 nos permitir\u00e1 seguir modernizando y ampliando los aeropuertos espa\u00f1oles.<\/p>\n

Est\u00e1 dotado con alrededor de 13.000 M\u20ac, la mayor inversi\u00f3n de las \u00faltimas d\u00e9cadas, y una firme apuesta por la sostenibilidad social y medioambiental. pic.twitter.com\/UwmeN1O2Kd<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pedro S\u00e1nchez (@sanchezcastejon) September 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The proposals will now be reviewed by the Spanish coalition cabinet and may raise some eyebrows, given the amount of controversy about overtourism that has raged in Spain and its territories over recent years.<\/p>\n

Spain welcomed record tourist arrivals last year and now sits only behind France in terms of worldwide visitor numbers. What\u2019s more, its popularity shows no signs of abating. In the first eight months of 2025 alone, tourist visits to Spain reached 75.4 million, hitting a record 11 million in July, making commentators predict it will exceed the record 94\u00a0million visitors<\/a> it managed in 2024, with revenues forecast to be over \u20ac260 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n