Aena choca contra el Gobierno por la ley de cogestión de los aeropuertos de Baleares

Aena has filed a lawsuit against the government over the airport co-management law for the Balearic Islands, asserting that the legislation contravenes the current legal framework. The group is threatening to take necessary measures to defend its interests. The dispute is not related to Catalonia or the Basque Country, but specifically to the Balearic Islands, which has seen the introduction of a bill that would lead to shared management of the four major airports in the archipelago.

The government recently lifted its initial veto on the bill, allowing the Congress to proceed with the legislation approved by the Balearic Parliament on April 28th. The proposal calls for the formation of an airport coordination committee, with decision-making power over policies for the four facilities. This could potentially limit the number of flights or tourists, and impose restrictions on tourist activity, among other measures.

Aena has plans for significant investments in the Balearic Islands in the upcoming regulatory period (2027-2031) to upgrade and modernize infrastructure, including a 559 million euro investment in Palma for airport processing building renovation and security control adaptation in Menorca and Ibiza. The latter island has faced opposition to the planned investments due to concerns about increased traffic and visitor numbers.

The proposal's passage does not guarantee final approval by the Cortes, according to Aena's statement to the CNMV. However, the mere action by the government has raised concerns about the compatibility of the bill with the existing legal framework. The Constitution grants the State exclusive jurisdiction over major airports, and Aena maintains that the State controls 51% of the company, with the remaining 49% held by private investors, including TCI, which has warned the board of its responsibility to defend itself against any attacks.