AGP Executive Report

Aviation & Infrastructure: Aena’s €464.1m tender for Tenerife South Airport’s terminal redevelopment has failed to attract a single bid, forcing a rethink of the procurement ahead of major works through 2031. Road & Safety: Spain is watching a fast-growing scooter enforcement issue after footage showed an electric scooter on the A-7 near Marbella at around 100 km/h, despite rules limiting VMPs and upcoming helmet requirements. Weather Disruption: Torrential rain hit eastern Spain again, with at least one death and major transport disruption, including flooding and temporary airport closures. Autonomous Logistics: Lidl is trialling a cabless Level 4 electric truck in Germany to move pallets between a distribution centre and a store, a sign of how Spain’s retail supply chains may evolve. Legal/Transport: The EU Court ruled that buying a plane ticket online doesn’t automatically give jurisdiction to sue at the passenger’s home court for lost baggage. Autonomous Mobility: Uber and WeRide expanded their Madrid robot-vehicle partnership under Spain’s level-4 permit, with deployment preparations starting in Greater Madrid. Maritime/Trade: Dutch operator Transito launched “Total Freight,” bundling sea and inland shipping under one contract to reduce delays caused by low water and port disruptions. Aviation Sustainability: EASA reported EU SAF supply reached 2.8% in 2025, above the 2025 ReFuelEU target, with SAF delivered at 121 airports.

Migration & Border Pressure: The UN’s IOM says fewer people are reaching Europe by sea in 2026, but deaths are rising: about 60,000 arrivals by Sept. 15 (down ~40%) while 2,292 died or went missing (up from 1,999). The deadliest drop is on the central Mediterranean to Italy, where fatalities rose to 996. Weather & Road Safety: Flash floods in Spain’s Catalonia and Valencia have killed a British man after his car was swept away in a usually dry water channel near Begues. Fuel Costs: Spain’s petrol and diesel keep climbing, with the €2-a-litre mark already broken in parts of the country and petrol up for 11 straight weeks. Logistics & Energy Industry: Spain’s Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley moves forward with EU “Project of Common Interest” status and €304m in public funding for early 405MW development in Huelva. Travel & Transport Business: Hilton expands its value-focused Spark brand in the UK with 10 new hotels (including near Runcorn railway station), targeting travellers tied to regional business and logistics.

Airport & Climate Policy: A new T&E study warns that planned expansions at 20 of Europe’s biggest airports will blow past the 1.7°C carbon budget by 2–3 times, even with cleaner fuel and more efficient aircraft. Road & Rail Disruption: Spain’s Mediterranean east is still reeling after torrential rain and flash-flood risk, with metro closures and diverted buses reported around Barcelona. Security & Transport Assets: A wave of fast, violent museum robberies is spreading across Europe, including Spain, with criminals using tools to smash display cases and grab valuables. Public Transport Affordability: Greenpeace research says ticket prices have risen in 14 European capitals over three years, pushing calls for cheaper “climate tickets” to cut emissions from road and air travel. Logistics & Industry: CEVA Logistics has started operations at a Toledo distribution hub, adding capacity for regional supply chains. Aviation Infrastructure: Malaga Airport has been approved €830m for immediate expansion, while Spain also eases airport charges—though airlines say the relief falls short.

Logistics & Warehousing: CEVA Logistics has started operations at a 75,000-sq-metre fashion and apparel hub in Toledo, able to handle 120 million garments a year, with heavy automation and about 400 permanent jobs (up to 1,000 in peak periods). Aviation & Airports: Corvera airport in Murcia passed 700,000 passengers in the first eight months, with international traffic driving growth, while Spain’s airport expansion plans face renewed backlash over climate and capacity concerns. Rail & Rolling Stock: Stadler Rail won a contract to supply eight bi-mode Eurolight Dual locomotives to Italy’s Mercitalia Shunting & Terminal, aimed at boosting flexibility across electrified and non-electrified lines. Energy Costs for Industry: A Spanish industry lobby warns the Iran war could add nearly €7.4bn to manufacturers’ energy costs through end-2026, urging stronger government support. Tourism Pressure: Barcelona’s crowd-management message (“not one tourist more”) clashes with continued visitor demand, as the city keeps welcoming arrivals. Road Safety: A man was seriously injured after being gored during the running of the bulls in Navalcarnero near Madrid.

Aviation Policy Clash: The UK Climate Change Committee says Heathrow’s third-runway expansion can’t go ahead under current climate targets, warning flight prices could rise by “hundreds of pounds” by 2050 to fund net-zero aviation cuts. EV Manufacturing Push: BYD plans to “become a European company” by expanding local production to sidestep EU trade restrictions, while other Chinese makers are also moving assembly into Spain and nearby EU sites. Spain Airport Investment: Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport gets 830m euros for expansion under Aena’s DORA III plan, targeting up to 36m passengers and boosting capacity through 2031. Digital Infrastructure Security: ESpanix, Spain’s main internet exchange point, deploys Nokia Deepfield Defender to protect Spanish network traffic from DDoS attacks. Logistics & Trade Pressure: EU auditors warn fruit and vegetable producer groups are losing ground despite support, citing uneven national rules and complex EU compliance. Maritime Security: Spain is listed among partners in GALAPEX 2026, a multinational exercise targeting illegal fishing and broader illicit maritime activity.

Airport Charges: Spain’s Council of Ministers approved Aena’s DORA III plan, setting airport fees to rise just 0.33% annually (about three cents per passenger per year) for 2027-2031, far below airline hopes and rejecting CNMC’s call for a cut. Freight & Decarbonisation: Europe’s truckmakers (ACEA) are urging a three-year delay to 2030 CO2 compliance, warning that charging and refuelling gaps and energy costs mean zero-emission heavy trucks still aren’t commercially viable at scale—Spain included. Inflation Watch: Spain’s CPI hit 4.3% year-on-year in August, with transport the sharpest riser (+10% vs last year), adding pressure to household budgets. Maritime Connectivity: Chartwell’s new ferry design for SPM Ferries (JANOT) has entered construction in Spain, targeting service in 2027 for the Saint-Pierre and Langlade route. Critical Minerals: Tungsten West is ramping up Hemerdon in England with TOMRA sorting tech, as US-backed funding pushes non-China tungsten supply. Safety & Response: Tenerife is set to host EU-Modex Tenerife 2026, Spain’s first full-scale volcanic emergency exercise, on 25 September. Border Security: Italy extended Schengen checks with Spain for 15 days, citing security risks after the Ceuta crisis. Labour Mobility: Foreign workers now make up 15.9% of Spain’s Social Security contributors, with heavy representation in hospitality, agriculture, construction and transport.

Aviation Disruption: Eurocontrol says Palma Airport was Europe’s third worst for punctuality this summer, with only 53% of flights departing on time and 7% cancelled, as Spain’s airspace faces capacity limits, staff shortages and traffic growth. Air Connectivity: Iberojet launched the first direct Madrid–El Salvador route, with an A350-900 landing in San Salvador and a same-day non-stop onward to Barcelona, boosting trade and tourism links. Maritime Energy: LNG bunker prices jumped this week, with ARA up to $1,607/mt, as gas supply risks and Strait of Hormuz uncertainty push TTF higher. Rail Freight: Eurostat data show EU rail freight performance fell 1.8% in 2025, with Spain among the lowest freight-per-capita markets. Logistics & Supply Chain Tech: Open Cosmos raised €300m to scale satellite manufacturing and sovereign connectivity services across Europe, including Spain. Aviation Industry: Boeing’s 747 freighter era is nearing its end as operators shift toward 777-8F and A350F for cleaner, more efficient cargo missions.

Sanctions & Finance: Spain has frozen Tabacalera’s bank accounts after the EU sanctioned its Cuban partner’s indirect shareholder, Chen Zhi, forcing the firm to seek Treasury approval for payments and even delaying salary runs. Pharma Logistics Savings: Miebach helped a European pharma player untangle a fragmented warehouse and provider setup, targeting up to €18m a year in savings by reducing redundancy and improving governance across Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Smart Policing for Roads: Estepona is expanding its CCTV network with a €900,000 contract for 170+ smart cameras, aiming to push coverage past 410 devices to speed up responses to jams, crashes and everyday offences. Urban Mobility Rules: Spain’s VTC market keeps growing: authorisations rose from 24,259 (end-2025) to 27,107 by Sept 1, 2026, adding 2,848 licences in eight months while taxi authorisations fell. Autonomous Vehicles: WeRide and Uber are in the spotlight as Spain issues permits for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicle operations, signalling faster real-world rollout. Aviation/Industry: The US transport secretary urged Ford to cut Chinese ties tied to Valencia-linked operations, while Ford hit back calling it wrongheaded. Rail Safety Watch: France is investigating a train derailment that injured 44 people, with police suspecting sabotage.

Autonomous Mobility in Spain: Lyft is moving deeper into driverless services after Waymo robotaxis went live in Nashville, with Lyft handling fleet readiness and depot operations—another sign Spain’s AV push is turning into real-world operations. Urban Transport Regulation: Spain’s VTC market keeps expanding: the registry shows 2,848 new VTC licenses in 2026 (to 27,107 by Sept 1), while taxi authorizations keep slipping, raising questions about how the 2026 visa requirements are reshaping fleets. Road Safety: A British tourist was arrested in Ibiza for reckless driving after evading a Guardia Civil checkpoint and speeding off in a Porsche, with authorities warning of jail and a long driving ban. Local Infrastructure: Zaragoza’s PP demands a new roundabout on the N-330 at Cuarte de Huerva to ease access problems tied to rapid residential and industrial growth. Mobility Tech Testing: A study on Spain’s highways highlights limits and opportunities for connected vehicle communication, focusing on how vehicles can “see” beyond onboard sensors. Rail Disruption Watch: France investigates a possible sabotage link after a train derailment injured 44 people in Normandy. Maritime & Logistics Context: A Jordan-EU investment forum points to logistics and infrastructure as priority sectors, aiming to deepen value-chain links.

Rail Safety & Security: French police are investigating possible sabotage after a regional train derailed in Cléon, Normandy, injuring 44 people; investigators found a piece of rail on the track and are weighing accidental causes versus deliberate interference. Aerospace & Defence (Spain): Airbus’ first A330 MRTT+ tanker is emerging from Toulouse assembly, with military conversion planned at Airbus Defence and Space in Getafe, Spain, as the Royal Thai Air Force prepares delivery in 2029. Aviation & Manufacturing (Spain): Airbus’ A350F programme faces delivery-pressure concerns, with first flight and first delivery timelines under scrutiny as cargo demand and order backlog keep mounting. Road & Logistics (Spain/Europe): Spain’s auto supply chain is pulled into US-China policy friction: the US transportation secretary urged Ford to cut Chinese ties, including a Geely joint venture building models at Ford’s Valencia plant from 2028. Mobility Tech (Spain): WeRide and Uber have received Spain’s first Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicle operation permits, signaling faster deployment for driverless services. Port & Maritime: The Mexican Navy’s training tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc, built in Spain, is making a stop in Victoria, highlighting ongoing maritime training and partnership links.

Rail Safety Probe: French police are investigating possible sabotage after a regional train derailed in Cléon, Normandy, injuring 44 people; investigators found a piece of rail on the track and are weighing accidental causes versus deliberate interference. Autonomous Mobility in Spain: WeRide, Uber and AVOMO secured Spain’s first Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicle operation license from the DGT, with Madrid robotaxi testing set to begin and a public commercial rollout planned for 2026 via the Uber app. Road Transport Security: Spanish National Police are hunting an alleged Valencia-based criminal workshop behind car thefts using headlight wiring attacks, GPS tracker killing, plate cloning and chassis changes—targeting high-value models like pre-2022 Toyota RAV4s. Air Travel Disruption: An easyJet Airbus A320 at Milan Malpensa was evacuated after a lithium powerbank overheated in an overhead locker; 146 passengers slid down emergency chutes and operations resumed after the aircraft was towed. Maritime Security: Spain’s foreign minister warned that Houthi attacks threaten regional stability and maritime security, stressing de-escalation and protection of shipping through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. Rail Modernisation: Morocco has put five Chinese CRRC Ziyang diesel locomotives into service to modernise its network ahead of the 2030 World Cup.

Maritime Security: Spain’s Civil Guard seized 1.124 kg of cannabis resin off Marbella and arrested three people, underlining how Moroccan drug flows keep reaching Europe by sea. Smart Mobility & Rail Tech: Siemens Mobility began a live, passenger-carrying trial of its cloud-native Signaling X in Rostock, a major step toward software-defined rail operations ahead of InnoTrans. Autonomous Vehicles in Spain: WeRide and Uber received Spain’s first Level 4 national operating permits for autonomous passenger vehicles, pushing Spain further into driverless testing and deployment. Circular Economy Rules: EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall outlined a Circular Economy Act to harmonise waste definitions, cut duplicate reporting and speed up cross-border movement of secondary materials. Road Safety & Infrastructure: Spain rolled out new road markings to protect motorcyclists on dangerous curves, while severe storms and flooding continued to disrupt travel. Aviation Planning: Jamaica advanced its first Civil Aviation Master Plan with technical support from Spain’s ALG and the UK’s CAAi.

Autonomous Vehicles & Permits: Spain has granted its first national operating permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles, with WeRide and Uber receiving approval for Madrid roads, adding momentum to the robotaxi push. Road Safety & Infrastructure: Spain is rolling out new road markings to better protect motorcyclists on dangerous curves, while local authorities also expand AI traffic camera coverage in Torrox to tighten enforcement. Rail & Travel Disruption: Trainline says growth stalled after a rail fare freeze and tube strikes, and flags weaker international rail demand tied to Spain-related disruptions. Air Connectivity: Air Canada is adding 14 new nonstop Europe routes via eastern hubs, including new links that reach Spain, while Ryanair expands winter capacity with extra flights to Alicante and Faro from Teesside. Migration & Border Politics: Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente defended Madrid’s cooperation with Morocco over the Ceuta mass crossing, saying declassified documents don’t back claims Rabat organized it. Logistics & Trade: Crane Worldwide Logistics continues European expansion with new Nordics offices, including Madrid earlier this year, to support integrated supply chains.

Autonomous Mobility in Madrid: Spain’s DGT has issued the country’s first national permit for Level 4 robotaxis on public roads, allowing WeRide, Uber and Avomo to begin mapping and route validation with 20 supervised vehicles in high-demand areas, with commercial operations targeted for end-2026. Road Safety Trial: Spain is testing new white circular road markings on selected bends in Catalonia and Barcelona province to nudge motorcyclists onto a safer line; early observations show 65% follow the suggested trajectory. Data Center Regulation: Spain’s draft framework for data centers moves through public participation, setting energy, environmental, efficiency and “digital sovereignty” requirements that could reshape grid access and project costs for major developers. Energy & Climate Pressure: Copernicus reports July’s record ocean heat and extreme wildfire-linked conditions across western Europe, with drought and low river flows affecting water, irrigation and energy. Trade & Logistics Corridor: Spain and the EU formally join the Luzon Economic Corridor, while the Luzon forum highlights investment plans across transport, energy and digital infrastructure.

Autonomous Mobility: Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic has issued the first national permits for WeRide autonomous vehicle testing on public roads in Madrid, with Uber and WeRide planning commercial services by year-end after mapping, route validation and readiness checks. Aviation Disruption: A UK air traffic control computer fault grounded or cancelled 2,000+ flights and left 330,000 passengers stranded or delayed; knock-on impacts are still hitting Spanish airports with hundreds of delays and cancellations as aircraft and crews reposition. Port & Trade Strategy: The EU and Spain have formally joined the Luzon Economic Corridor, backing the Philippines’ push to link Subic Bay, Clark, Manila and Batangas as a maritime and logistics hub. Autonomous Vehicles (Spain): WeRide’s GXR approval is described as the first national approval in the EU, with AVOMO set to manage fleet operations. Air Traffic Performance: ENAIRE reports August traffic up 5% year-on-year, setting new Spanish airspace daily records, including Palma’s 6.3% growth. Citrus Supply Chain: Valencian growers urge the EU to enforce cold treatment on South African orange imports after further false codling moth detections on TRACES, warning of quarantine risks to European crops. Airport Capacity Protest: A Palma demonstration on Sept. 20 targets plans to expand Palma Airport and calls for reduced air traffic across Mallorca.

F1 & Travel Demand Shock: Madrid is bracing for the Spanish Grand Prix as Formula 1 drives short-term rental prices up sharply near the new Madring circuit, with some listings reportedly topping €20,000 for just a few days. Air Travel Disruption: Ryanair is calling for the head of the UK’s NATS to resign after an air traffic control IT outage triggered hundreds of cancellations and delays, with knock-on effects felt across Europe including Spain. Border & Security: Spain’s national intelligence agency reportedly issued WhatsApp warnings before the Ceuta migrant surge, raising questions about how much advance notice the government had. Weather & Mobility: Torrential rain and flooding hit Mallorca and parts of Catalonia, causing deaths, cancelled classes, and travel disruption. Maritime & Logistics: Europol-backed action dismantled the “Dubai Bank” money-laundering network tied to cocaine trafficking, underlining how financial flows underpin cross-border transport crime. Conservation & Fishing: A Basque regional ban on catching European eels aims to protect a critically endangered species, but fishermen warn it could worsen livelihoods while smuggling networks profit.