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Tag Archives: Privatisation

Spanish Government to reduce airport investment by 18.3% Airports,Regulations

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 Airports,Regulations

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…

Aena will go public in early November Regulations

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 Regulations

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…

Madrid airport strike called by Aena staff Airports

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:…

DORA approved through a Royal Decree Airports,Charges,Regulations

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 tariff freeze until 2025 Charges,Regulations

Madrid airport Terminal 4

Aena tariff freeze: The ministry of Development—Fomento—is ready for the Aena tariff freeze in the Spanish airports until 2025.The Royal Decree draft of the Document for Airport Regulation (DORA) takes into consideration the Aena tariff freeze until 2025. This is expected just after the confirmation of the privatisation by 49% of Aena Aeropuertos.The target is to bring more traffic to the Spanish airports. Hence, the Aena tariff freeze will be subject to conditions such as “possible regulatory changes or unforeseen occurrences”.Thus, the draft fixes the Aena tariff freeze until 2025 provided that the investments in the net are not over 450 million Euros…

Aena Privatisation: Competition disagrees, Ryanair interested Airports,Regulations

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…

Aena privatisation is confirmed Airports,Regulations

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…

Aena becomes profitable Charges,Regulations

Aena’s logo at Madrid Airport / David

Aena becomes profitable: The Aena Group published a press release confirming they had become profitable with benifits by 715 million Euros in 2013. According to elEconomista.es this has been possible thanks to cuts in costs and increases in fees.Thus, the EBITDA – gross operating profit – reached 1,610 million Euros, 32.5% over those 1,215 million of 2012.Most of these net benefits come from Aena Aeropuertos which, for the first time, managed to be profitable and finished 2013 with a net income of 597 million Euros. In 2012 they had a loss by 75.7 million Euros.The Government is trying to privatise Aena Aeropuertos since June 2011 when the…