SPAIN. Airports group Aena has struck agreements with key commercial partners about the level of discounts payable on minimum guaranteed rents during the pandemic, when passenger traffic fell sharply.
The agreement follows legal disputes over partners’ contractual obligations in the period. The terms of the agreements are common to all partners and are confidential. One of the main agreements has already signed been with F&B concessionaire Areas, noted Aena in a statement.
The agreements had a positive effect of €28.4 million on Aena’s income in Q1 2026.
The resolution was prompted by a judgement from the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court No. 275/2025 of 19 February – whose reasoning was reiterated in subsequent judgements – which assigned jurisdiction over these disputes from the civil courts to Spain’s contentious-administrative courts, which review actions by public bodies.
The Supreme Court declared other proceedings in the civil courts to be null and void, referring the parties to find resolution through these contentious-administrative courts.
Aena said it will invoice minimum contractual rents to commercial operators with which no agreement has been reached once these annulments are confirmed through the civil courts.
Aena Managing Director of Commercial and Real Estate María José Cuenda said, “Our day-to-day operational relations at airports with our commercial operators have always been smooth, as they are essential to the passenger experience and to Aena’s commercial business. Therefore, resolving legal disputes allows us to further increase the benefits for both parties and for passengers.”
She noted out that the airports across Aena’s Spain network recovered quickly from the consequences of the pandemic, with no impact on employment or the quality of passenger service. ✈
