Spanish airport operator Aena to expand UK presence at Leeds and Newcastle airports

Spanish state-owned airport operator Aena said on Thursday it had agreed a £270 million deal to acquire stakes in two UK airports, further strengthening its international footprint.

In a statement, Aena said it will purchase 51% of a newly created holding company that owns and operates 100% of Leeds Bradford Airport and 49% of Newcastle Airport, both located in northern England.

The world’s largest airport operator by passenger numbers said the acquisition, which builds on its existing 51% holding in London Luton Airport, would increase the number of passengers it handles in the UK from 17 million to 26.5 million.

The transaction represents ‘a significant step for Aena in countries with enormous potential such as the UK’, the company’s chairman and chief executive, Maurici Lucena, said in the statement. ALSO READ: Spain’s airport operator Aena slams Ryanair for ‘lies’ in row over flight reductions.

‘Aena is looking to selectively grow in the areas where we are already present, so as to create value for public and private shareholders,’ he added.

The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Aena currently operates 46 airports across Spain, one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, and has pledged to invest nearly 13 billion euros over the next five years to upgrade its infrastructure. The group also runs dozens of airports throughout the Americas.

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