Aena exceeds pre-pandemic EBITDA levels one year earlier than scheduled in the Strategic Plan 2022-2026.
Aena obtained in 2023 a gross operating profit (EBITDA1) of 3,022.6 million euros, with a margin of 58.8%. This figure represents growth of 45.4% compared with 2022 (2,078.9 million) and 9.3% compared with 2019 (2,766.2 million). The company has therefore recovered its pre-pandemic EBITDA one year earlier than scheduled in the Strategic Plan 2022-2026. Excluding the reversal of the impairment of the Northeast Brazil Airport Group, the EBITDA margin would be 55.8%.
The net profit recorded in 2023, which includes extraordinary financial items*, stood at 1,630.8 million euros, a record figure that is an improvement of 80.9% on the 901.5 million euros profit achieved in 2022 and is 13.1% higher than in pre-pandemic 2019, when net profit was 1,442 million euros.
Shareholder remuneration of 7.66 euros
As a result of its 80% pay-out policy, Aena will propose to the Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting, to be held on 18 April, the distribution of a gross dividend of 7.66 euros per share out of the 2023 profit, which will benefit both its private and public shareholders (the government owns 51% of the company). In the previous year, shareholder remuneration was a gross sum of €4.75 per share.
Passenger traffic for the Aena Group (Spain, London-Luton and the Northeast Brazil airports) grew to 314.1 million (16% more than in 2022), equivalent to 102.3% of 2019 traffic. At Spain’s airports, the increase is 16.2% (to 283.2 million passengers) and is equivalent to 102.9% of 2019 traffic.
Commercial activity consolidates its growth
Total consolidated revenue in 2023 rose to 5,141.8 million euros, an increase of 21.3% compared with 2022. Aeronautical revenue stood at 2,858 million euros, 18.5% more than in 2022. Commercial revenue, with sales from commercial activities exceeding 2019 levels, reached 1,552 million euros, an increase of 25.2% compared with 2022. Thus, total sales from commercial activities were 17.3% above 2019 levels and fixed and variable rent revenue invoiced and collected in the period was 21.8% above 2019 levels.
The consolidated accounting net financial debt2 of the Aena Group stood at 6,222 million euros, compared with €6,242.9 in 2022, with the net financial debt to EBITDA ratio of the consolidated group falling to 2.06, compared with 3.00 as of 31 December 2022.
There has been strong cash generation. Net cash from operating activities amounted to 2,219.8 million euros compared with 1,863.2 million euros in 2022. The Aena Group’s OPEX, which includes supplies, staff costs and other operating expenses, amounted to 2,218.3 million euros in 2023, compared with 2,090.7 million euros in 2022. The evolution of these costs reflects the increased activity and operations of the Aena Group’s terminals and open airport spaces.
In relation to other operating expenses, it is worth highlighting the reduction in electricity costs in Spain, which amounted to 121.2 million euros (45.2% less than in 2022). Excluding the impact of energy, the year-on-year increase in other operating expenses in the Spanish airport network was €140.3 million, 16% higher than in 2022 in a context of increased airport activity.
Dow Jones Sustainability World and Europe’s Climate Leaders – Financial Times
Among the milestones in the company’s commitment to sustainability, Aena has entered the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the first time and remains in the FTSE4Good. In addition, Aena has been included in the “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2023” list, which is compiled by the Financial Times in collaboration with Statista, the largest online data portal. This list includes the 500 European companies that achieved the greatest reduction in their carbon emissions and made the most climate-related commitments.
Aena Brazil now handles 20% of the country’s traffic
In the international arena, Aena, through its subsidiary Aena Desarrollo Internacional, took over the effective management of the operations of the 11 airports of the new BOAB group (Block of Eleven Brazilian Airports) between October and November 2023.
Aena became the successful bidder for BOAB in a public auction held in August 2022. The group’s 11 airports are located in four states (São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Pará) and the concession has a 30-year term, with the possibility of an additional five years.This concession of 11 airports is the largest international operation in the history of Aena, which, under the Aena Brasil brand, will manage another six airports in the northeast of the country from 2020. Aena thus manages 20% of the country’s traffic.
*Extraordinary financial items: remuneration of deposits in Brazil (36.3 million euros), exchange rate differences (11.2 million euros) and fair value of derivatives (23.2 million euros), among others.
1 “Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization”. It is calculated as operating profit plus depreciation and amortisation.
2 It is calculated as the total of “Financial Debt” (Non-current Financial Debt + Current Financial Debt) minus “Cash and cash equivalents”.
The numerical reconciliation of these alternative performance measures has been included in the relevant section of the 2023 Consolidated Management Report.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
