To consolidate the very positive performance of air freight traffic this year, Aena’s airport manager will incentivise the activity of companies with a rebate on the average landing fee for additional operations until 2027. The rebate amounts to 75% of the tariff during the first year, and in the following two years it will be reduced to 50% and 25%.
Specifically, the incentive is aimed at cargo planes with a maximum take-off weight of more than 191 tonnes and seeks to encourage both air cargo traffic and the scheduling of routes and flight frequencies by companies operating at Spanish airports.
This measure is part of Aena’s strategic plan specifically for air cargo, which supports industry operators to enhance the development of freight transport, improve airport competitiveness, and maintain the sustained growth of operations. Planned actions include the tendering of new logistics areas at Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat airports.
More than 800,000 tonnes transported
During the first eight months of the year, Aena airports have recorded the movement of 815,874 tonnes of goods, almost 20% more than in the same period of 2023 and six consecutive months above 100,000 tonnes. July, with 106,000 tonnes, was the most outstanding month, followed by August, with 104,000 tonnes.
Madrid-Barajas handled 60,850 tons of cargo in August, 25% more than the previous year; Zaragoza ranked second with 17,782 tons, a spectacular increase of 33.3%; and Barcelona-El Prat dropped to third with 14,849 tons (+15.5%). In total for the year, Madrid had accumulated 487,467 tons by August, Barcelona 120,055, Zaragoza 109,360, and Vitoria 46,862.
Eight months of double-digit growth
The strong performance seen in Spain’s main airports reflects the global situation of air freight transport. According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the tons of cargo per kilometre transported increased by 13.6% year-on-year (14.3% for international operations) through July, marking the eighth consecutive month of double-digit growth, something not seen since 2021.
In terms of operating capacity, which is measured in tonnes of cargo available per kilometre, it increased by 8.3% compared to July 2023 (10.1% in international operations).
IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, highlights that “air cargo demand hit historic highs in July. All regions saw strong growth. The air cargo business continues to benefit from the robust state of global trade, the boom in e-commerce, and the crisis in maritime transport.”
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