Turespaña-AENA Agreement Extension 2026: What Changes for the Tourism and Aviation Sector

Key data

The tourism sector and airlines operating in Spain have an institutional ally that remains active: the agreement between the Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespaña) and AENA, S.M.E., SA is extended through an amendment published on May 20, 2026 in the BOE (reference BOE-A-2026-10865). This is not a change of direction, but rather the continuity of a framework that was already functioning and is now formally guaranteed.

For those making decisions on air routes, traffic attraction strategies or tourism promotion policies, this extension has a clear practical meaning: the data-sharing channels between the tourism organization and the airport operator remain open and operational.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the amendment that extends the validity of the collaboration agreement between Turespaña and AENA. The original agreement had three working axes that are now maintained:

• Development of air connectivity in Spain: Both entities collaborate to attract and consolidate air routes that respond to the country's real tourism demand.
• Exchange of strategic information: Turespaña and AENA share relevant data to align tourism promotion policies with route offerings and airport capacity.
• Joint research on tourism demand: Coordinated actions are carried out to analyze demand behavior, identify source markets and anticipate connectivity needs.

The extension does not introduce changes to the agreement's content: its objective is to guarantee the continuity of projects already initiated and prevent a formal interruption of the agreement from halting ongoing work.

Economic and operational impact

This agreement does not generate direct costs for private sector companies. Its impact is strategic and operational in nature: the value lies in access to an institutional framework that facilitates decisions based on real demand data.

For airlines and tourism destination managers, the existence of this agreement has concrete practical consequences:

• Decisions on opening or maintaining routes can be supported by tourism demand data validated by Turespaña, reducing uncertainty.
• Regional and local tourism promotion organizations can align their strategies with the information generated by this agreement at the national level.
• The continuity of the agreement avoids information gaps that could affect tourism season planning and negotiations for new routes.

The interruption of this type of agreement, although it does not generate direct sanctions for private companies, can result in less informed route decisions and reduced coordination between airport supply and real tourism demand.

Who does it affect?

• Airlines operating at AENA-managed Spanish airports: They benefit from the institutional environment that facilitates the attraction of new routes and consolidation of existing ones.
• Tourism sector: Hotels, tour operators, travel agencies and tourism destinations that depend on air connectivity to attract international tourists.
• Airports managed by AENA: Coordination with Turespaña allows directing route development efforts toward markets with greater tourism potential.
• Public tourism promotion organizations: Both at national (Turespaña) and regional and local levels, which can leverage the data generated by the agreement for their strategies.
• Tourism and air transport consultants and analysts: Who use institutional information to advise their clients on connectivity strategies.

Practical example

A low-cost airline evaluating opening a new route between a European airport and a second-tier Spanish tourism destination needs reliable data on the potential demand for that corridor.

Thanks to the extended agreement, AENA can share with Turespaña the traffic and capacity data of the destination airport, while Turespaña provides information on the profile and volume of tourists from the source market in question. With both sources aligned, the airline receives clearer market signals—whether through route presentations, demand studies or institutional meetings—that reduce the risk of the opening decision.

Without the agreement extension, this coordinated information flow between the airport operator and the tourism organization could have been interrupted, leaving the airline with partial or outdated data at the time of decision-making.

What should companies do now?

1. Airlines with routes in Spain: Verify if they have active communication channels with AENA to access the demand studies generated by this agreement. The extension keeps this institutional channel open.
2. Tourism destinations and promotion organizations: Review if their air connectivity attraction strategies are aligned with the data shared by Turespaña and AENA. This is the time to update route capture plans for the next season.
3. Tourism and aviation sector consultants: Incorporate into their analyses the continuity of this institutional framework as a factor that facilitates negotiation of new routes with international airlines.
4. Regional public tourism organizations: Contact Turespaña to learn what information derived from the agreement with AENA is available and how it can be integrated into their regional connectivity strategies.
5. All affected parties: Consult the full text of the amendment in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-10865) to understand the exact scope of the extension and the commitments in force between both entities.