Jurídicos y Administrativos

✈ Iberia aims to expand its fleet by 23 new aircraft by 2028 as part of its "Plan de Vuelo 2030" to enhance growth and establish Madrid-Barajas as a leading European hub. In 2023, seven aircraft will be added, followed by two in 2026, eight in 2027, and six in 2028, including three A350 models for routes to Latin America and seven A321XLRs to increase connectivity with the US East Coast. Due to aircraft shortages and manufacturer delays, Iberia has outsourced some routes to other airlines. By 2027, Iberia plans to upgrade 20 A330 and 14 A350 with new business class suites featuring privacy doors, currently in 20% of the wide-body fleet. Financially, Iberia's goals include maintaining an operating margin of 12-15%, comparable to the 13.6% achieved in 2024.

📍 Juan Molas, president of Spain's Mesa del Turismo, in an interview with Preferente, calls for a unified national legal framework to address the challenges in the Spanish tourism sector, including the regulation of tourist homes and the need for transparency and legal certainty. He advocates for a dedicated Tourism Ministry, criticizes the government's inaction on RD 933/2021, stresses the importance of qualified labor, and touches on the impact of international politics on tourism. The interview underscores concerns over tourism-phobic protests and the need for administration and private sector collaboration to promote tourism positively. Mesa del Turismo, comprising over 100 members, continues to focus on qualitative growth, and Santiago Vallejo has been appointed for institutional relations to maintain contact with public administrations and diplomatic representatives.

💰 Guardia Civil's Central Operative Unit (UCO) investigates government negotiations with Air Europa for a first credit of €141 million backed by ICO, preceding a €475 million state bailout. UCO seeks to clarify reasons for aid and Nadia Calviño's involvement, the former economy minister and current President of the European Investment Bank (BEI). Messages from November 2024 indicate Calviño's connection to a corrupt scheme. Despite knowledge of a €35 million dividend distribution among Air Europa's Hidalgos before aid request, Calviño didn't halt the state aid approved on November 3, 2020.

🚀 Carlos Moreno, chief of staff for the Spanish Finance Minister María Jesús Montero, confirmed involvement with Víctor de Aldama regarding irregular dealings at Ciudad Real International Airport. Rafael Gómez Arribas, the airport owner, owes €86.13 million in taxes. Moreno admitted to discussing a €32 million ICO credit for the airport and mentioned lies by Montero about meetings with scheme leader Koldo. A property purchase in Madrid followed the scandal on March 16, 2020. The Spanish government's agreement for an emergency center at the airport was scrapped in June 2020 due to the scandal. In May 2020, Aldama sought pandemic-related financing, coinciding with the airport's first flight from Guangzhou, China, for mask supplies.

✈️ On a Monday, 510,000 travelers faced cancellations of 3,400 flights due to a strike in Germany, called by the Verdi union, impacting airport employees and the handling sector. Major airports like Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin, and Leipzig ceased operations. The union demanded an 8% wage increase or at least €350 more per month, improved bonuses, and more time off, which employers deemed excessive.

🏠 The Generalitat Valenciana has deregistered 886 tourist homes from the Tourism Registry due to lack of NIF/NIE. Most of them, 803, are located in Alicante, with 55 in Castellón and 28 in Valencia. This action is the first phase impacting around 34,000 tourist homes, aligning with the decree Law 9/2024 from August. The registration cancellation process began on January 28, giving owners a 10-day deadline to respond and update required information.

🏖 Viajes Interrías, a Spanish travel agency, became a reference turoperator for groups and circuits in Morocco since 2018. Their growth in Morocco has been consistent, making it their main international destination from Spain and Portugal. The team of 80 travel agents offers a varied catalogue, including the four Imperial Cities, Tánger, Casablanca, and more. They provide 7-day itineraries like “Marrakech-Ruta de las Kasbahs y Desierto”. Mohammed Cherkaoui projects a growth of over 30% by 2025. After COVID, they also entered the Turkish market, now their second most visited destination outside Europe.

🏨 In Canada, a couple from Toronto traveled to Vancouver with Air Canada, which lost their luggage. The airline initially offered $250 for reasonable expenses, but the couple claimed $3,435. The Canadian Transportation Agency later ruled they were entitled to $2,079. Despite this, Air Canada filed a lawsuit, challenging the expenses which included $250 on underwear and $1,310 on a suitcase. The issue centers on what constitutes a "reasonable amount.

📌 In Baleares, new tourist accommodation in multi-family homes will be banned, with increased quality requirements for renewals and platforms mandated to check registration numbers. Owners operating illegally face fines up to 500,000 euros, but with an 80% reduction for switching to social or limited-price rentals. Measures include a swap system to control tourist accommodation numbers and a transitional pool for withdrawn licenses. The ecotax will be seasonal, eliminated in January-February, and increased by 66%-200% during peak months. Cruise ships will pay 2-6 euros per night during high season. A new tax on vacation vehicles, ranging from 30 to 80 euros, aims to offset environmental impact.

💸 Booking.com, faced a €413 million fine imposed by Spain's CNMC in July 2024 for abuse of dominance, violating competition laws. The company appealed in November 2024 to the Audiencia Nacional, which suspended the fine. The initial penalty prompted Booking Holdings to report a €486 million loss for the year ending December 31, 2023, but this was later adjusted to a reduced provision of €72 million as of June 30, 2024. The fine arose from complaints by Spanish hotel associations in 2021.