The Spanish airports classified as of general interest, a total of 49, are managed by the company Aena, 51% owned by the public business entity ENAIRE.[1]​.

Article 149 of the Spanish Constitution, referring to the exclusive powers of the State, in point 20 makes direct reference to the ownership of ports and airports of general interest.

Beginnings

The first field in which there was a controlled flight in Spain was the esplanade located in front of the Paterna barracks (Valencia), when Juan Olivert flew with a biplane designed by Gaspar Brunet on September 5, 1909.

From this moment on, in almost all provincial capitals and important cities, rudimentary aerodromes emerged on plains without trees or esplanades prepared for this purpose with lime marks that delimited the leveled area. In 1914 there were more than 100 aerodromes registered in Spain.

Postwar period

After the Spanish Civil War, the Ministry of Air reconstructed the main airports between 1941 and 1957. By law of December 26, 1958, the National Board of Civil Airports was created, and the first Structured Plan was also approved.

Spanish Airports and Air Navigation

The Autonomous Body of Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (AENA) was created in 1991, attached to the Ministry of Public Works and Urban Planning, from the previous Autonomous Body of National Airports (OAAN). Since June 7, 2011, the state commercial company Aena, 51% owned by the public entity ENAIRE, is responsible for the management and operation of airport services,[2]​.

Public and private airports[3]​

In October 2011, commercial flights stopped operating at Ciudad Real airport due to lack of profitability of the routes. After this, for a few months it operated only with general aviation, until April 2012, when due to economic losses it closed its operation for all types of air traffic until its reopening in 2019.