Following the announcement of the partial privatisation of Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat airports, the government has opened the way for more airports to become privately managed, another 13 in total.
Later this week, AENA will put out to tender the management of air traffic control of 13 of the 47 airports under its control in Spain, these being: Sevilla, Jerez, Valencia, Alicante, Ibiza, Vigo, La Corulña, Melilla, Sabadell, La Palma, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Madrid- Cuatro Vientos.
Officials say this is not a sale of equity but merely a question of opening up the management of air traffic control to competition and thereby increasing efficiency and minimising the risk of future strikes in the industry.
Most of the current air traffic controllers, of which there are 2,400, will become employees of the successful bidders with only a few being retained by AENA.