The Spanish Competition Authority investigates potential anticompetitive practices in the management and leasing of fixed-base operations facilities (FBOs) in airports.
The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) has undertaken a new series of inspections in the fixed-base operations (FBO) services market at Spanish airports, as part of an ongoing investigation into potential anticompetitive agreements. The inspections, conducted between 10 and 13 June 2025, targeted the headquarters of several companies operating in this sector. These follow an earlier round of inspections that took place in May 2024.
The CNMC is examining possible coordinated practices in the management and operation of FBO facilities, as well as in public tenders issued by Aena for the leasing of airport premises used for FBO activities. These services typically provide private aviation support, including aircraft fueling, hangaring, maintenance, and other essential ground services.
These inspections are considered a preliminary step in the investigation process. They do not presuppose guilt nor confirm the existence of anticompetitive behavior on the part of the inspected entities. Should the authority uncover sufficient evidence of prohibited conduct, it may initiate formal disciplinary proceedings.
Serious Breaches of Competition Law
Agreements between competitors—such as collusion in bidding processes or market sharing—constitute very serious violations of Spanish and European competition law. Such infringements may result in fines of up to 10% of a company’s total annual turnover.
The CNMC has reiterated that combating cartels remains a top enforcement priority due to the severe impact such practices have on consumers and the integrity of markets. Anticompetitive agreements can lead to inflated prices, reduced service quality, and limited innovation.
Leniency Programme and Whistleblower Platform
The CNMC encourages companies involved in cartels to make use of its leniency programme. This programme allows entities that provide substantial evidence of cartel activity to benefit from full immunity or a significant reduction in potential fines. To qualify, companies must either alert the CNMC to the existence of the cartel or contribute evidence of added value to an ongoing investigation.
In addition, under Article 72.5 of the Spanish Public Sector Contracts Act (Law 9/2017), companies that cooperate under the leniency programme are exempt from the ban on participating in public procurement—a penalty that otherwise applies to firms found guilty of serious antitrust violations.
To further enhance detection efforts, the CNMC also operates an anonymous whistleblowing platform known as SICA (Anonymous Competition Informants System). This tool enables citizens and employees to confidentially report suspected cartel behavior, such as price-fixing, market allocation, or collusive tendering in both public and private sectors.
