Category Archives: Regulations

Aena new shareholders to acquire 21% of the company Standard

Aena offices in Madrid / Luis García - Wikimedia Commons

As we have been informing, another step has been taken in the Aena privatisation process. Last Tuesday they announced the names of the Aena new shareholders who are creating the stable nucleus. Aena had 21% of the company reserved for three main shareholders which made up a big private stable nucleus in the public entity. Thus, the new shareholders are Corporación Financiera Alba (subsidiary of Banca March), Ferrovial and the Children’s  Investment Fund Management (TCI). Corporación Financiera Alba will be the largest private shareholder with 8% of the shares. Then, both Ferrovial and TCI will get 6.5% each. ElMundo.es informed that November 12 is the date when…

Gómez-Pomar becomes new chairman of Enaire Standard

Julio Gómez-Pomar in October 2012 at the closure of a Business development Programme for Renfe / Flickr - EOI Escuela de Organiación Industrial

On October 3, Julio Gómez-Pomar replaced Rafael Catalá as State Secretary for Infrastructure. According to Logística Profesional it was Ana Pastor – Minister of Development- who suggested Gómez-Pomar is appointed Secretary state for Infrastructure, Transport and Housing. This was approved by the Government’s board on October 3. Due to the unexpected resignation of the former Minister of Justice – Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón – Rafael Catalá was chosen to replace him. Catalá had recently taken over Enaire in preparation for the privatisation of the former Aena Aeropuertos, today Aena, SA. Enaire is a State company currently 100% responsible for Aena, SA. Next month, 49% of Aena SA will be…

Spanish Government to reduce airport investment by 18.3% Standard

Man at work at T2 Málaga airport / Flickr - Dorte

Yesterday, the Spanish Government published the first draft of the General State Budget for 2015. ActualidadAeroespacial extracted the amounts set for airport investments. The draft says this budget intends to “continue on the path to economic recovery, competitiveness enhancement and employment creation, enforcing productive investment”. Hence, the Ministry of Development will reduce airport investment by 18.3% during the first year of the Aena privatisation. In 2015, airport investment, together with air safety and security, will be reduced in 24 million Euros. This represents 5% with regard to the Budget for 2014. With this, out of 9,570 million Euros available for development, the Ministry…

Aena acquires majority stake in Luton airport Standard

Many aircrafts grounded in Luton airport because of the volcanic activity in April 2010 / Flickr - Geoff Collins

Last Friday, the Spanish council of Ministers authorised Aena to acquire the majority of London Luton airport. Thus, Aena acquires ownership of 11% of Luton airport reaching a total controlling stake of 51%. A 40% participation had been already bought in November 2013. Luton airport served 9.7 million passengers in 2013. It is the fifth largest UK airport in passengers. It is also easyJet‘s main base With regard to the other Aena airports, Luton is the sixth, after Gran Canaria and ahead of Alicante-Elche ABC said this purchase is a part of the Aena’s plan to increase the international presence in strategic airports. As…

Ryanair discarded its bid for Aena, Catalá leaves Enaire Standard

Strait of Gibraltar view from a Ryanair’s plane / flickr.com

As we have been informing, Enaire is currently responsible for Aena SA. Enaire will continue to be 100% a State company, in charge of the air navigation in Spain. On the other hand, Aena SA, the Spanish airport manager, is being sold by 49%. Ryanair discarded its bid for Aena According to CincoDías Ryanair discarded its bid for Aena. They had been announcing that they were exploring the documents, but the deadline for bids was yesterday and Ryanair discarded theirs just the day before. According to EuropaPress, the Spanish Minister of Development – Ana Pastor – assured there are national and international investors which have confirmed…

Airlines can charge for checked-in luggage Standard

Vueling aircraft landed / Aero Icarus

The court of justice of the European Union approved last Thursday that airlines can charge extra costs for the checked-in luggage. The judgement is in favour of Vueling, who had challenged the 3,000 Euros fine from the Galician Consumer Institute. According to the news by ElMundo.es, a Galician citizen reported Vueling to her local government. She complained because she had been charged with 40 Euros for checked-in luggage in a flight from A Coruña to Amsterdam. Then, the Galician Consumer Institute charged Vueling with 3,000 Euros, considering the Spanish regulation was infringed. According to the Spanish law, passengers are entitled to a one free piece…

Spanish slot coordination, AECFA started operations Standard

Spanish slot coordination. Airplane ascending while another one is queing / Jumbero

Last Monday, September 15, the Spanish association AECFA started operations. As of that day, AECFA is responsible for the Spanish slot coordination and schedule facilitation in the airports. The name AECFA stands for Spanish Association of Coordination and Facilitation (in Spanish Asociación Española de Coordinación y FAcilitación). Flight Consulting has been following this information very closely since September last year, when we already informed about the ongoing restructuring process in Aena. During the first day, AECFA distributed the Slot Historical Lists (SHL) which make a start for the Summer 2015 season in terms of slot coordination. These lists are being used…

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…

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…