Aena is on track to surpass the passenger record in Spain, with a forecast of 280 million travelers at the end of the year, two percentage points above the 2019 record. Until September, the airport manager transported 216.6 million passengers, 17.6% more than in the same period of the previous year, with increases in both national traffic (14.6%) and international traffic (19.2%). A summer season better than expected and the forecasts released by the airlines for the winter, with the largest seat schedule in their history in Spain, thus anticipate a very good year in terms of activity.
In the results section, the listed company chaired by Maurici Lucena hopes to reach pre-pandemic profit. Until September, it has earned 1,139 million euros (with financial extraordinary items), which is 71.3% more than what was registered in the first nine months of 2022 (664.7 million euros), and a figure similar to that registered in the 2019 (1,114.2 million euros), as reported this Thursday by the company to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV).
Total consolidated revenues increased by 19.9% compared to 2022, to 3,779.1 million euros and total sales from commercial activities already exceed 2019 levels with 15.6% more. In total, Aena has earned 1,134.6 million euros until the third quarter with the stores. "The regulated business, however, has been partially slowed down by the fact that airport rates have not recovered the sharp increases in costs of providing airport services from 2022," explains the manager. These aeronautical revenues amount to €2,114 million.
The recovery of commercial activity is even more notable if we take into account the conflicts it has caused since covid. During the pandemic, Aena had maintained a confrontation with some of the tenants, including Dufry, his main tenant. The competition for duty-free shops also caused surprises, as it was initially deserted in the Barajas and El Prat lots, something that has now been resolved and which once again has Dufry as the first winner.
The gross operating result (Ebitda) reached 2,113.6 million euros until September, with a margin of 55.9%. This figure represents a growth of 38.8% compared to the same period in 2022 (1,522.2 million), although it remains slightly lower than that of 2019 (2,136.7 million). When 2023 ends, Aena estimates reaching a consolidated Ebitda of more than 2.7 billion.
The traffic of the Aena Group (Spain, London-Luton and the airports in the Northeast of Brazil) grew by 17.4% compared to the first nine months of 2022, up to 240 million passengers, which implies a recovery of the 100.8% of pre-pandemic traffic.
The group's consolidated accounting net financial debt stood at 6,364.8 million euros, compared to 6,242.9 million euros in 2022, reducing the ratio of net financial debt over Ebitda to 2.38 times, compared to 3 times December 31, 2022.
