Senate Approvesildos' Role in Aena

Additional amendment to aviation law to allocate €1.2 billion for resident discount

The Senate has incorporated two amendments to the aviation law so that the island councils of the Balearic Islands and the governing bodies of the Canary Islands (cabildos) are consulted on Aena matters, and to create an extraordinary credit of €1.2 billion to guarantee the payment of the resident discount to airlines.

Both initiatives, according to a statement from the Balearic People’s Party (PP), were defended by the “popular” senator Cristóbal Marqués and have received the approval of the Upper Chamber.

“The Balearic island councils and the Canary cabildos must be consulted on Aena decisions, such as the expansion of the islands’ airports. It’s common sense,” said the Menorca senator.

Marqués lamented that the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) rejected the inclusion of these supra‑municipal entities in airport infrastructure management while it “negotiates with Catalonia the co‑management of Barcelona’s El Prat airport.”

“This is pure ‘Sanchismo’: privileges for some, punishments for others. First‑class Spaniards and second‑class Spaniards. An utter disgrace,” he criticized.

The “popular” senator also highlighted the €810 million that the government has failed to pay airlines for the resident discount, prompting him to defend an amendment that would allocate an extraordinary credit of €1.2 billion to guarantee the benefit.

“It’s simple: the 2025 invoices should be paid this year so we don’t have to wait for next year’s budget. The 75 % discount is not a gift but a right that compensates the insularity of the Balearic and Canary Islands and the extrapeninsular status of Ceuta and Melilla,” he noted.

Marqués argued that “the government’s poor management” has generated “a huge debt that threatens the continuity of the system and, consequently, the mobility of thousands of citizens.”

Despite this, the central executive “has tried, by every possible means, to block this amendment.”

“They didn’t even want it to be voted on, leaving only €320 million after a minimal agreement in Congress,” he pointed out. He added that this amount is “insufficient” given the lack of a general state budget for the current legislative term.

“Enabling €1.2 billion to guarantee the resident discount is not a privilege or favoritism. We demand equality, justice, and respect for insularity. We will not allow these territories to be marginalized and will always defend the equality and dignity of all Spaniards,” Marqués concluded.