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CNMC Approves Aena’s 2026 Airport Charge Increase of 6.44%

The decision follows the end of a decade-long cap, setting asymmetric increases that officials defend as competitive.

Overview

  • The adjusted maximum revenue per passenger rises to €11.03 in 2026, an increase of €0.68 from the current level.
  • The increase is uneven across services, with parking up 12%, landing, security, meteorology and boarding bridges up 7.25%, and other services such as aerodrome transit, infrastructure use, handling, catering and fuel up 5%.
  • CNMC also updates the 2026 traffic outlook to 331.7 million passengers versus Aena’s 323.2 million estimate, drawing on Eurocontrol data.
  • Airlines have opposed the rise, with Ryanair announcing capacity cuts at smaller Spanish airports and warning of higher operating costs that can feed into ticket prices.
  • The approval comes as a restrictive framework on tariff rises lapses in 2026, and Aena as well as the Transport Ministry argue Spanish airport charges remain among Europe’s most competitive.