The president of Aena, Maurici Lucena, predicts a year of full passenger recovery at Barcelona airport, with activity that will probably exceed the record of 2019 (52.69 million passengers). “I think that in 2024 we will see a fully recovered Barcelona airport, the year has started like a shot”, said Lucena during the presentation of the results of the listed company.
The January data and the preliminary figures for this month of February indicate this, he added. El Prat closed the first month of the year with 3.5 million passengers, 7.1% more than the same month in 2019 and 13.9% more than the same period a year earlier. It chains, in this way, a quarter with record traffic after the good records of November and December of 2023. Last year the airport transported almost 50 million passengers, 5.3% less than in 2019, while the the whole of the Aenaa Spain network was 2.9% above the activity of that year. Barajas was 2.5% below the pre-pandemic level. The president of the company attributed the delay of Barcelona and Madrid airports compared to the rest of the network to a more complex mix of passengers. “Tourist airports have recovered before all over the world,” he said.
However, a change in trend is now perceived, Lucena reported. The coincidence of several fairs in February, such as the current Mobile, predicts a new historical record for the airport. Two of the key airlines for El Prat, Vueling and Ryanair, will also roll out the largest summer schedule in El Prat, which will contribute to this progress. The IAG company will increase flights to Barcelona by 7%, and the Irish low cost will increase capacity by 14%. The Lufthansa group will also grow, following the plan to increase capacity in Spain this season.
In parallel, both Aena and the Catalan authorities, integrated into the Air Routes Development Committee, are working to expand the number of intercontinental routes and frequencies. All this while the central and Catalan governments are negotiating options to increase the capacity for long-distance flights and the possible expansion of the airport.
The pace of Barcelona airport is not an isolated element and coincides with the momentum of the airport business as a whole.
The good recovery of passenger traffic and the improvement of commercial activity at the airports have caused Aena to exceed the profit before the covid and propose a dividend of 1,149 million, at a rate of 7.66 euros per share (figure one 61.2% higher than what was paid in 2022, of 4.75 euros gross per title). The proposal will be brought to the shareholders’ meeting on April 18 and, according to the latter, the State will receive 586 million euros as owner of 51% of the listed company.
In total, the airport manager chaired by Maurici Lucena has obtained record profits of 1,630.8 million euros in 2023, 80.9% more than in 2022 and 13.1% above the 2019 financial year, prior to the pandemic that paralyzed air activity worldwide. The company has recorded extraordinary financial items, including remuneration for deposits in Brazil (€36.3 million) and exchange rate differences (€11.2 million).
Total revenues increased by 21.3% last year, to 5,141.8 million euros, with an 18.5% advance in aeronautical revenues, to 2,858 million euros. For its part, commercial revenues amounted to 1,552 million euros, 25.2% more than in 2022.
Aena’s business and passenger traffic, with a record last year of 283 million, exceeds forecasts, which has led it to update the strategic plan for March 7. The manager will apply from next month a new tariff system that will increase revenue per passenger by 4.09%, with an average of 40 cents. Lucena defended this tariff change, which at first provoked criticism from the airlines. The company emphasizes that, despite the increase, prices are still below 2019. Lucena pointed out in this regard that the main airline groups have obtained record profits in the last financial year “superior” to the airport manager’s profits.
