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Category Archives: Airports

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…

Canary Islands new routes tendered by the Region Standard

Tenerife South airport terminal / Flickr - rromer

In March 2013, the president of the Autonomous Region announced a Flight Development Fund would be created to boost Canary Islands new routes. EuropaPress published the information when this blog did not exist yet.This morning, Preferente.com informs that the first six Canary Islands new routes have been put out for tender. Therefore, airlines can place bids to cover these destinations: Tenerife – New York. Gran Canaria – Rome. La Gomera – London. La Palma – Leipzig. Lanzarote – Lyon. Fuerteventura – Paris. In the forthcoming months the government of the Region is expected to put out for tender other Canary Islands new routes.Ricardo Fernández…

DORA approved through a Royal Decree Standard

Aena’s electric cars at Madrid airport / Flickr-Ministerio de Fomento

Last Saturday, the expected Royal Decree was published in the Spanish official gazette (BOE). In a 172-page document with different changes to the regulations currently in force, the Aena privatisation and tariff freeze has been confirmed. At the same time, the Document for Airport Regulation – DORA – has been defined. Several Spanish media inform about some of the changes specified in this Royal Decree. Above all, they deal with the tariff freeze and the fact that the Government will keep 51% of the company. Javier Gándara about the new regulation It is noteworthy the article by Javier Gándara—General Director for easyJet—in an op-ed piece at CincoDías….

Aena Privatisation: Competition disagrees, Ryanair interested Standard

Ryanair and Iberia in competition

As soon as the Aena privatisation was definitely confirmed by the Minister many thoughts, interpretations and declarations have appeared in the Spanish media. Since this is something that we have been following very closely, we have extracted some pieces of news which may be relevant to the subject.The National Competition Commission disagreesFirst of all, ElMundo.es published a thorough article informing that the Spanish Competition Commission is not happy with the privatisation as it has been planned by the Government. In their view, it will not benefit the industry to keep the airport net monopoly. For Competition it would be better to separate Aena in…

Corvera and San Javier will coexist until 2016 Standard

Corvera airport being constructed in June 2012 / Adam Hinett

Corvera and San Javier airports will both be open at the same time until 2016. Then, Aena expect to close San Javier to commercial flights.Today LaInformacion.com informs that the Councillor for Public Works of the Murcia’s Government – Manuel Campos – confirmed the above after attending the Regional Assembly.He also said that, according to Aena, all four airports Alicante, Almería, Corvera and San Javier are compatible. He noted that “San Javier is a military aerodrome which can be closed to commercial flights, but Corvera is more worthwhile. It has over 3,000 meters and better facilities”.He reminded they expect to have certificates for tower…

Canary Islands expect strong grows for winter 2014 Standard

Aircraft connected to airbridge at Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas airport / daniele paccaloni

According to the data we have just uploaded to our Customized Airport Statistics Canary Islands expect strong grows for winter 2014. If we compare the actual offered seats in winter 2013 with the current offered seats in winter 2014 based on the coordinated slots, we find heavy increases of 15-20% in most of the Canary Islands airports.Canary Islands airports are the most congested Spanish airports for next winter 2014 season. Please find below some highlights. For further information you can go into our application (only for registered clients) and make your own inquires (who operates which route, etcetera).All the figures below refer…

AECFA and New Tax starting 15th of September Standard

Aena logos at Barcelona airport / Lali Masriera

Last Tuesday 17th of June, Spanish Ministry of Fomento (Development) designated Asociación Española para la Coordinación y Facilitación de Franjas horarias (AECFA) as Slot Coordinator and Facilitator of the Spanish Airports within the Aenanet. Further to our post of 20th of January this change in the coordinator is in order to meet the European Regulation 95/93 about slot coordination in European airports which pretends an independent coordination from airlines and airports. The new association is primary made up of Aena (50%) and a number of airlines (50%): Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling, Air Nostrum, Air Europa, Ryanair, Swiftair, Thomson Airways, Condor, Thomas Cook Airlines Ltd., Binter Canarias , Naysa and Canair The assignation of AECFA as Spanish coordinator and Mr….

Aena privatisation is confirmed Standard

Lufthansa takeoff shot from Barcelona airport terminal / Kozumel

Ana Pastor – Minister of Development – managed to succeed with her plans and they will finally go ahead with the Aena privatisation. Aena will make an initial public offering (IPO) this autumn. However, they will put on sale only 49% of the company instead of 60% as their Consulting Council of Privatisation (CCP) had recommended.A smaller part through the same privatisation system.The council of ministers reached an agreement last Friday. Thus, they confirmed the Aena privatisation will be distributed in two phases: 28% through an IPO, and 21% for a stable nucleus with at least three main shareholders. This is…

The Norwegian Madrid base is inaugurated Standard

Norwegian B737 LN-KKW at Madrid / Aero Icarus

Yesterday, lainformacion.com informed that the Norwegian Madrid Base was opened during a launch ceremony. Thus, the third European low cost airline starts their Adolfo Suárez Madrid base to operate seven direct routes. Norwegian has already got a base in Alicante, Barcelona, Málaga, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. They have now based two B737-800s in Madrid to cover their daily flights to London and Copenhagen – One frequency is being added to the Copenhagen flight. Also, they will fly to Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Hamburg, Warsaw and Malta.Ms Ana Isabel Mariño – the Madrid councillor of employment, tourism and culture – attended this ceremony, together with…

Castellón airport to start operations this year (as well) Standard

Valencia Autonomous Region president presenting the Castellón airport project / PresidenciaGVA

According to LaVanguardia.com SNC-Lavalin confirmed the first commercial flight will operate in Castellón airport before the end of 2014. They foresee to have reached one million passengers per year in ten years.We had recently informed that Murcia-Corvera airport intend to start operations in 2014 as well. Probably both airports want to take benefit from the good figures of the Spanish airports in general, and Alicante in particular. Alicante gained passengers by 7.7% between January and April 2014 with regard to the same period of 2013. Alain Russel, chairman of SNC-Lavalin – the company to manage Castellón airport – said this during the presentation of the project for the Castellón…