Airport operator AENA's loss narrows, sees traffic still lagging in 2022

MADRID -Spanish airport operator AENA stated on Wednesday its 2021 loss narrowed by half as passenger site visitors by means of its terminals recovered some floor from the 2020 droop although it forecast 2022 site visitors to stay properly beneath pre-pandemic ranges.

The group lower its web loss to 60 million euros ($68.02 million) from 126.8 million euros a 12 months earlier, whereas complete income climbed 6.7% to 2.39 billion euros.

AENA shares traded 2% down, whereas the blue-chip index was 0.8% up.

Passenger site visitors in AENA‘s terminals rebounded by almost 60% final 12 months from a close to standstill in 2020 when COVID-19 floor air journey to a digital halt, however volumes have been nonetheless lower than half their pre-pandemic ranges.

The corporate expects its passenger site visitors in 2022 at 68% of pre-pandemic ranges, Chief Government Maurici Lucena stated.

“I'm extra optimistic at current than in different moments in the course of the pandemic,” Lucena informed analysts and buyers throughout a convention name.

Waves of coronavirus infections adopted by rounds of journey restrictions world wide have dashed hopes for a fast rebound airport operators anticipated when the disaster first hit.

AENA‘s income progress in 2021 was pushed by a 35% improve in aeronautical revenues, charges charged to airways, which greater than offset a 23% decline in business revenues, rents charged to retailers and different companies working within the airports.

In September, Spain pressured AENA to cut back the rents it expenses to tenants at its airports till passenger site visitors totally recovered from the pandemic. One of many world’s main airport operators that manages 46 airports in Spain, together with Madrid and Barcelona terminals, expects the lease cap to value it some 1.3 billion euros.

The corporate final week stated it anticipated site visitors by means of Spanish terminals to recuperate to pre-pandemic ranges in the course of the summer season, whereas seats on flights to and from Spain between March-October to rise round 3.6% in contrast with the identical interval in 2019. [L1N2UT0TZ]

AENA additionally operates airports in Brazil and in London.

($1 = 0.8821 euros)