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Author Archives: Jorge Masot

Aena will go public in early November Standard

Rafael Catlá and Ana Pastor, on the right-hand side of the image, in 2012

Last week we informed that Aena will go public in November. Yesterday, Rafael Catalá confirmed this point during a conference at Executive Forum España. As you may remember, Rafael Catalá is State Secretary for Infrastructure and, therefore, chairman of ENAIRE. ENAIRE, is the State company which is currently 100% responsible of Aena SA – formerly Aena Aeropuertos. Thus, ENAIRE is about to start the privatisation process of Aena SA by 49%. El Confidencial, informed yesterday about this conference. Hence Aena will start trading on the stock exchange in early November. As expected, they will launch 28% of their share capital for private investors through an…

Ryanair exploring bid for Aena Standard

Ryanair aircraft landing / Flickr - Leoncio J

Many Spanish media are announcing this week that Ryanair is exploring the terms and conditions to place a bid for Aena. According to Cincodías, in a piece published on Sep 3, Ryanair will make a decision within the forthcoming weeks. Ryanair’s marketing Director, Kenny Jacobs, assured they keep interested. We have 20 days left and that is enough. Ryanair was one of the first companies who confirmed interest in Aena. Before, they had been refused by Ferrovial in London-Gatwick airport. Aena privatisation deadlines These are the forthcoming dates to have in mind with regard to the Aena privatisation Sep 23: Every…

Plus Ultra got their first A340 Standard

Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas / plusultra.com

On Monday, Sep 1 Plus Ultra received in Madrid their Airbus A340-313X 9Ac-LG, serial number 212. This is the first aircraft officially incorporated to their fleet. However, the airline still lacks an Air Operator’s Certificate. This has been confirmed by Rony Nahon – commercial director for Plus Ultra – to Preferente.com. Nahon used to work for Air Madrid. Plus Ultra may be one of the Spanish startups which gestation period is longest: almost five years. According to Flynews, this A340 together with the 9AC-LH serial number 215 – also intended for Plus Ultra – have been parked in Amman (Jordan) where they were…

Flight Consulting 2.0 Standard

Sunrise at Barcelona airport / Flickr - Juanedc

We are delighted to share our brand new web site with you. On 10 April, 2013 we informed you that a dynamic web site was born. The target was to keep you easily up-to-date on the Spanish Aviation Industry, aiming to introduce our company – Flight Consulting – to everyone who does not know about us yet. Precisely, focused on making it easier, we have incorporated a new web design where the blog posts are spread in categories and tags in order to improve the user experience. The information you like is much easier to follow now. Hence, we have…

Ryanair terminates Swissport contract to do self handling Standard

Swissport staff performing ramp handling to a Ryanair plane in Madrid airport / Flickr-ÁlvaroBa

After over seven years Ryanair terminates Swissport contract, both for passengers and ramp handling, in Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport. The reason behind this is that Aena finally accepted the Ryanair request to perform self ramp handling.Ramp handling is limited in the Spanish airportsThe ramp handling in the Spanish airports is not open and can be performed only by those agents who have a license. In fact, the second phase for the handling tender is currently under process. It is precisely this phase which will determine the new companies entitled to offer ramp handling services to airlines at Madrid airport.Apart from the ramp…

Madrid airport strike called by Aena staff Standard

Madrid airport Terminal 4

The CGT-Aena union informed that they have registered prior notice about a Madrid airport strike called for August 29 and 31.They intend to start negotiations on the privatisation process “after a failure of dialogue with Aena”.They assured they have not received any answer either from the airport or from the Ministry. Thus “they are not confident that negotiations can be started”.The collectives who have been called are flaggers, doctors, firemen and passenger service staff from the operational security area. They work either for Aena or for Enaire.The stops have been fixed as follows: August 29: From 15:00 to 20:00 LT August 31:…

New logo for Aena and Enaire Standard

Aena and Enaire new logo

Aena, the Spanish airport operator, and Enaire, the public company responsible for air navigation, have changed logos.The new Aena’s logo is not really a new corporate image. It is actually a redesign from the usual logo made by Javier Mariscal. The blue colour, which alludes to air, disappears in the brand: any matters related to the air space management have been kept by Enaire. Mariscal introduced a more lighthearted typography and left green as the only colour, together with black for the association to allude to the environment.The new logo introduction is being made little by little. Actually you may have noticed…

Iberia in good shape Standard

Iberia A330 EC-LYF, with the new livery, getting out of the fog / Flickr - Curimedia | photography

In February, we anticipated that Iberia was working on an aggressive plan, after a deep restructuration. In fact, that restructuration goes on. ElMundo informed on July 24 that Iberia has reached an agreement with the Unions on a voluntary layoff for 1,427 employees. This will affect to handling staff and pilots, but not to cabin crew members. The process is expected to have been completed by 31 December 2017.To that respect, on August 11 Preferente.com informed that some of the items in that layoff have been contested before the National High Court by one of the unions (CTA).However, IAG is happy with the Iberia’s…

Gran Canaria airport works: finished the second phase Standard

Vehicles parked in front of a Gran Canaria airport’s entrance / Flickr - Håkan Dahlström

In September we informed that the first phase of the Gran Canaria airport works had been concluded. Last week Aena published another press release: The second phase is now finished too. The third and last phase is left.This way, the improved terminal started working on July 15th. It has 42,000 more square meters. On the first floor a new check-in area has been built. This new area has 18 counters which could increase up to 34 in the future. Also, there is a new security control zone with two double filters, a boarding lounge and shops. The intermediate floor has another boarding lounge, mainly…

Corvera loan approved from Brussels subject to San Javier closure Standard

Murcia San Javier airport entrance with the Aena’s logo / Flickr - elyob

Murcia announced their intention to start operations this year with the new airport provided that they managed to have the Corvera loan confirmed by Brussels for about 180 million Euros.Then, Manuel Campos—Councillor for Public Works of the Murcia’s Government—said Corvera and San Javier airports would coexist until 2016. Then Aena would close San Javier to Commercial flights. All subject to the above mentioned Corvera loan.Yesterday, MurciaEconomía informed that the European Commission answered to the Autonomous Community. They will let Murcia go into debt to face that 180 million Euros bank guarantee that had been granted to Aeromur in the past. In exchange, Brussels requested one only…