Spain’s National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has approved an average 6.44% increase in Aena’s airport fees for 2026, alongside an upward revision of passenger traffic forecasts, resulting in a maximum adjusted revenue per traveller of 11.02€.
The regulatory body noted on Thursday that a legal cap restricting ad hoc tariff increases over the past decade will no longer apply next year. In July, the CNMC confirmed it had ratified Aena’s proposal to raise fees by 0.68€ per passenger, bringing the total to 11.03€.
These charges, collected from airlines for the use of terminals, runways, jet bridges, security controls, and other facilities, feed directly into ticket pricing. The CNMC had already reviewed one element of the tariff variation formula in July 2025—the so-called P Index, which accounts for costs beyond Aena’s direct control, such as staff salaries, air navigation, electricity, and local taxes.
Between the regulatory periods of 2017–2021 and 2022–2025, tariffs largely remained stable or fell, except for a 4.09% rise from 2023–2024, following a Council of Ministers’ approval of a 3.5% P Index, the CNMC said.
Asymmetric increases across services
The 2026 tariff adjustment is not uniform but distributed asymmetrically to balance service revenue with operating costs. Aircraft parking charges will see the largest jump at 12%, while landing fees, security, meteorology services, and jetway usage will rise by 7.25%. Aerodrome transit, infrastructure use, handling, catering, and aviation fuel services are set to increase by 5%. The CNMC oversees these proposals to ensure full compliance with legal frameworks and has verified that Aena consulted airlines appropriately.
Tensions with Ryanair
The move has sparked a clash with Ryanair, which has threatened base closures and reductions in seat capacity, labelling the charges “abusive”. Aena and the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility maintain that the tariffs remain among the most competitive in Europe and insist they will not bow to Ryanair’s demands or compromise Spain’s airport model to boost a single airline’s profits.
