The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted Aena a loan of €140 million to boost security and improve operational efficiency at airports in Spain. This loan represents the third tranche of a total financial package of €800 million approved in 2022, of which Aena has already utilized €200 million.
The funding will focus on enhancing airport security, including the updating of runways and the redesign of service roads, following recent guidelines from the EASA, as well as modernizing the lighting system in aircraft parking areas.
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Investments will also be made in improving infrastructure such as the repair of operational pavements, the updating of emergency control systems, the replacement of boarding bridges, and the installation of new security equipment.
Additionally, funds will be allocated to projects focused on information technology and innovation, such as process automation, cybersecurity improvement, data management, implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM), as well as software acquisition, while initiatives for the integration of biometric technologies, the development of data-driven platforms, and the digitalization of customer services to increase efficiency in passenger terminals will be financed.
In a press release, the EIB stated that «around one-third of the funds will be spent on developing Aena airport facilities located in Spanish regions that the European Union classifies as less developed, where the gross domestic product per capita is less than 75% of the EU average. As a result, the operation is also an important one for promoting social and economic cohesion and helping to reduce regional inequalities and promote investment in less developed areas».
