Ministry of Development to Appoint New Flights Regulator

 

The Ministry of Development, headed by Ana Pastor, has announced that it will issue a Royal Decree in the coming months which will seperate AENA from having the sole authority and responsibility of awarding flight 'slots'.

Instead, a newly appointed regulatory body will take responsibilty for this procedure, overseen by the Ministry of Development.

After meeting with leading airlines and aviation industry representatives, Pastor described this measure, which was called for by both the EU and a number of airlines, as being "fundamental".

The Minister also confirmed the the issue of the airporyt fees currently being charges to airlines was under consideration and is subject to the State Budget Law (PGE).

The Minister said how AENA is responsible for 7% of GDP, and sustains some 140,000 direct jobs and over 555,000 jobs in the wider aviation sector - 2% of the workforce of the country, and that the related businesses that they in turn employ (construction, operation of infrastructure transport and housing) account for 16% of the total GDP.

As such, she urged the aviation sector to do what they could to help find employment for the 4'000 former employees of Spanair.