Aena yesterday anticipated a "strong wave of investment" in Spanish airports between 2027 and 2031 due to the forecast that passenger traffic, especially from Asia, will multiply. The company's president and CEO, Maurici Lucena, presented to the shareholders' meeting an ambitious plan to promote "large and sophisticated projects" in this five-year period. Among which is the expansion of the Prat, a plan that Lucena mentioned in a veiled way: "To participate fully in today's hyperglobalization, a region needs the international air connections and the hotels required by the companies that orchestrate the value chains" , he said, citing American professor Bradford DeLong. Sources from his environment added that they expect El Prat to be one of the great projects of the future.
"We want to be the best in the world and offer the most attractive returns in the airport sector", said the manager's first executive. At the moment, Aena is working on projects for different airports, such as the expansion of Madrid-Barajas, the one in Palma and the actions at the two in Tenerife. In addition, the medium-term objective is to advance in the airport cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Valencia and Seville.
Aena's strategic plan for the coming years also foresees the consolidation of international assets and their possible expansion. Lucena defined Brazil as the main "strategic market" in front of the shareholders and, specifically, Congonhas - São Paulo airport as its jewel. The Spanish company expects to manage 20% of the air traffic in the country of Rio de Janeiro. The top manager of the listed company was open to new acquisitions abroad "as long as there are the right options".
Aena's shareholders validated the management during 2022, in which the company returned to profit. He earned 901 million. The dividend was also recovered, of 4.75 euros, which will bring in 363 million euros for the State. Lucena pointed out that, if the forecasts are met, Aena will be in a position to raise it to five euros. The company's shares fell by 15.5% last year. However, this 2023 they have already grown by 26% and it has become the biggest revaluation of the Ibex 35. Yesterday they closed at 155 euros.
Regarding airport fees, which will be frozen this year and next, Lucena recalled that in 2025 the transitional regime provided for in the legislation will end and, therefore, the limitations imposed by the National Markets and Competition Commission will disappear (CNMC).
Lucena finally predicted a record summer at the airports, a prediction shared, he said, with the president of Iberia, and revealed that 13 companies are taking part in the competition for duty-free shops, the largest in the world, with 18,000 millions at stake.
