Spain’s airport operator, Aena, is embroiled in a legal battle over whether it must disclose its airport parking revenue from each of its airports.
The dispute, which has now reached the country’s Supreme Court, centers on whether this revenue information falls under Spain’s transparency laws—or if Aena, as a publicly traded company, has the right to keep it confidential. The case, which has drawn significant public attention, was reported by 20minutes, highlighting the ongoing legal debate over Aena’s obligation to disclose its airport parking revenue.
The case began in 2022 when a citizen requested a breakdown of Aena’s parking revenue from 2019 to 2021 under Spain’s Transparency Law. Aena refused, arguing that the information was “confidential” and that revealing it could harm the company’s commercial interests. However, Spain’s Transparency and Good Governance Council (CTBG) ruled in favor of the request, stating that the information should be public.
Despite this decision, Aena fought back, first appealing to Spain’s National Court, which rejected the company’s arguments in June 2023. Now, the case has escalated further, with Aena turning to the Supreme Court in a last-ditch effort to keep its parking profits private.
A Multi-Million-Euro Business
The stakes are high. According to its latest financial report, Aena earned €204 million from parking operations in 2024—13% more than the previous year. However, the company does not publicly break down how much revenue comes from each airport.
Aena’s leadership, including CEO Maurici Lucena, argues that the company operates in a competitive market and should not be subject to the same disclosure rules as fully state-funded entities. Aena maintains that, while it is partially state-owned, it functions as a commercial entity listed on the stock market and competes with private businesses.
Supreme Court’s Key Question
The Supreme Court has now admitted Aena’s appeal, recognizing the case as one with broad legal implications. The court will examine whether a publicly traded company, even one with government involvement, must comply with transparency laws at the same level as fully public institutions.
The decision could set an important precedent for how much financial information semi-public companies in Spain—and potentially across Europe—must reveal. If Aena loses, it may be forced to disclose its parking revenue figures annually. If it wins, it could reinforce the right of partially privatized companies to keep certain financial details confidential.
What Comes Next?
With millions of euros in parking fees at stake, Aena’s legal team is preparing for what could be a lengthy court battle. Transparency advocates argue that the public has the right to know how much Spain’s busiest airports make from parking. Meanwhile, Aena insists that revealing this information could weaken its market position.
The Supreme Court’s ruling will determine whether Spain’s biggest airport operator must open its books—or if its parking profits will remain a well-guarded secret.
