Source: Aena

  • Aena has a market capitalisation of 32,490 million euros on the Spanish stock market
  • Its shares have appreciated by 273.4%, from 58 euros at the starting price on 11 February 2015 to 216.6 euros at the close on Friday, an all-time high
  • Aena has paid its shareholders 4,857 million euros in dividends over nine years (2015-2023), in nominal terms. 51% of this amount (2,477.1 million euros) has been received by the State as the majority shareholder, which, moreover, does not make public contributions to the company, as Aena is self-financing
  • “We are aware of Aena’s dual commitment: to society and the territories that host the airports, and to public and private shareholders”, Chairman and CEO, Maurici Lucena

Aena celebrates ten years on the stock market tomorrow and does so as the largest airport company in the world, both in terms of number of passengers and market capitalisation, and as the sixth-largest listed company on the Ibex 35, with a market capitalisation of 32.49 billion euros at Friday’s close. Aena shares debuted on the stock market at 58 euros per share on 11 February 2015 and on Friday closed at 216.6 euros, reflecting a 273.4% increase and reaching an all-time high. This share price evolution over the past decade has occurred despite the devastating impact of the global crisis caused by Covid-19, which drastically affected the company over several years during this decade.

“These have been ten very intense years during which, thanks to the technical expertise, experience, and know-how of Aena’s employees and management, the company has achieved remarkable milestones and overcome, faster than any other company in the sector, the extremely serious health and mobility crisis generated by the pandemic,” explains Aena’s chairman and CEO, Maurici Lucena, who has been at the helm of the company since 2018.

“The figures speak for themselves. Aena’s network of 81 airports in six countries served 440 million passengers in 2024, almost the population of the European Union. Aena is a key link in the tourism sector, Spain’s main economic driver, and is not only self-financing, but also profitable and generates value for shareholders, with the Spanish state and its citizens benefiting the most, having received some 2.5 billion euros (in nominal terms) in dividends during this period. All of this is compatible with Aena’s role as an essential public service, ensuring connectivity and territorial cohesion,” Lucena concludes.

Some 2.5 billion passengers and thousands of special operations

Aena has served 2,448 million people over the last 10 years. This makes the airport company the largest in the world. Aena’s airport network in Spain consists of 46 airports and 2 heliports: two hubs, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat; 13 tourist airports; 26 regional airports; and seven general aviation airports. All of them play an essential role, not only because of the connectivity between territories and the resulting generation of prosperity, but also because they enable special operations, such as the daily operations of the National Transplant Organisation, Maritime Rescue and Law Enforcement Forces and Agencies.

Air transport contributes 10.5% to Spain’s GDP and generates 605,000 direct, indirect, induced and catalytic jobs, according to ATAG Benefits Beyond Borders (2023 data).

Aena also operates Luton Airport (London) and 17 airports in Brazil, including Congonhas Airport in Sao Paulo, the second busiest airport in the country. In total, Aena Brasil manages 20% of Brazilian air traffic. In addition, Aena participates in the management of another 15 airports in different countries in the Americas: Mexico, Colombia and Jamaica.

The Aena Group therefore handles, on average, over one million passengers every day in its infrastructures.

Its aim is to manage the world’s safest, most efficient, sustainable and welcoming airports, catalysts for the economy and tourism and value generators for our shareholders, our customers and society.

Dividends of more than 4.8 billion euros

Aena stands out for its shareholder remuneration policy (public and private), with a payout ratio of 80% of annual individual net profit, which makes the company the most attractive company in the airport sector in terms of dividend policy. In the period 2015-2023, Aena paid dividends of 4,857 million euros to its shareholders. Of this amount, 51% (2,477.1 million euros) was received by the Spanish state as the majority shareholder.

Credit rating agencies have endorsed Aena’s financial strength, confirming its creditworthiness and credit quality. Moody’s rating is A3 with a positive outlook and Fitch Ratings’ rating is A with a stable outlook. In addition, Fitch Ratings has assigned an “F1” short-term credit rating.

“All of this has been possible thanks to Aena’s professionals who, with their efforts and professionalism, have managed huge volumes of air traffic with very high levels of quality, guaranteeing at all times the safety of operations and compliance with the demanding regulatory framework for air transport. And with the permanent awareness of Aena’s dual commitment: to society and the territories that host the airports, and to the public and private shareholders”, concluded the president.