Spain's Aena Offers Model for Revitalizing South Korea's Struggling Regional Airports

South Korea's regional airports are grappling with significant financial challenges, with only four out of fourteen operated by the Korea Airports Corporation turning a profit last year. This situation highlights a critical need for innovative solutions to revitalize these vital transportation hubs.

Spain's airport management group, Aena, presents a compelling case study for overcoming such difficulties. Aena operates a vast network of 46 airports across Spain, ranging from major international hubs to smaller regional and island facilities. The company emphasizes that its integrated management system allows all airports within the network to benefit from shared synergies, efficiencies, and economies of scale, regardless of their size.

"All airports in the network, whether large or small, receive the same benefits from the synergies, efficiencies, and economies of scale generated by this network," explained Ángel Sanz, Aena's Director of Strategy and Public Policy. "We can provide the same quality and safety standards to all airports, which is crucial for their proper functioning."

Aena's success is also attributed to strategic investments and targeted incentives. The company collaborates with the Spanish government on a five-year investment plan, allocating substantial funds to upgrade infrastructure, including regional and island airports. Furthermore, Aena offers significant incentives, such as landing fee reductions and per-passenger subsidies, to airlines that establish new routes, particularly to underserved regional airports or for long-haul international services. This approach has helped transform airports like Jerez, which saw a significant increase in passenger numbers after Aena facilitated direct flights from London.

“

All airports in the network, whether large or small, receive the same benefits from the synergies, efficiencies, and economies of scale generated by this network. We can provide the same quality and safety standards to all airports, which is crucial for their proper functioning.