Lorraine Williamson
The Spanish opposition has accused state airport operator AENA of jeopardising the future of rural Spain with its planned hike in charges. The Partido Popular (PP) argues that the decision to raise airport fees in 2026 threatens to strip remote provinces of their vital air connections, making them harder to reach for both residents and visitors.
AENA confirmed earlier this year it will increase charges by 6.5% in 2026 — the sharpest rise in more than ten years. The announcement came just months after the company posted record annual profits of €1.93 billion. For the PP, this represents a contradiction: instead of channelling profits into keeping regional airports affordable and accessible, the company is forcing passengers and airlines to shoulder higher costs.
Rural Spain under pressure
The areas most affected would be Spain’s so-called España vaciada — depopulated provinces already battling economic stagnation and population loss. Higher ticket prices and reduced flight options could prompt airlines to abandon smaller airports altogether. For families, workers, and businesses, that would mean longer journeys, reduced mobility, and further obstacles to attracting investment or tourists.
Airlines scaling back
Budget carrier Ryanair has already responded by slashing capacity. It plans to cut more than one million seats for the 2025–26 winter season, close its Santiago de Compostela base, and withdraw flights to Tenerife Norte and Vigo. Other regional hubs — including Asturias, Santander, Zaragoza, Vitoria, and several airports in the Canary Islands — will also lose services. The airline has branded the new charges “excessive” and warned they will stifle regional growth.
Political backlash against Puente
The PP has also turned its fire on Transport Minister Óscar Puente. His programme of subsidies designed to preserve routes has, the party insists, failed to stop airlines pulling back. Instead, it argues, rural airports are being left increasingly empty.
Alternatives on the table
In response, the conservatives have put forward a three-part plan:
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Halt the 2026 fee increase.
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Negotiate a new tariff system with airlines within the framework of DORA III, the government’s next five-year plan for airport regulation.
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Launch a targeted incentive scheme, developed with the aviation sector, to safeguard connections for sparsely populated regions.
More than an aviation issue
Behind the row lies a bigger question: how can Spain’s hinterland remain connected in an era of centralisation and demographic decline? For many provinces, flights are more than a convenience — they are a lifeline for tourism, jobs, and family ties. If connections continue to dwindle, the social fabric of rural Spain risks being pulled apart even further.
Source: 20 Minutos