Aena, the state-owned company managing general interest airports and heliports in Spain, has issued an “urgent statement” following claims that Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), the main international airport serving Madrid, has been plagued by bed bugs. The airport operator has denied that there is a plague in the facilities and asserted that cleaning and sanitisation tasks at the airport are ongoing.
Aena has denied the presence of an insect infestation in Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. In a statement, the operator said that the pest control company hired following reports of bites by some airport workers had not confirmed the existence of an infestation. However, it did acknowledge that insects have been detected in “very limited” areas within several parts of the facilities.
In the document, Aena explained that inspections, monitoring, and prevention treatments had been carried out, and whenever an insect was identified in very limited and defined areas, specific actions were taken.
The airport operator assured that it had worked “in coordination” with the cleaning company and the specialised firm to incorporate all necessary hygienic measures and has kept the companies to which these workers belong informed at all times.
Some media outlets and social media messages have suggested that homeless individuals residing at the airport are the source of the bedbugs. However, Aena stated that “it cannot be confirmed that this is the origin.”
Additionally, Aena added that local and regional institutions responsible for social services are aware of this situation and have organised working groups to address it, in collaboration with Aena.
Finally, it defended that cleaning and sanitisation tasks within the facilities are “constant” and whenever requests from workers or passengers regarding any aspect related to cleanliness arise, they are reviewed and necessary actions are taken.
Tensions have been rising between the Madrid City Council and Aena regarding the more than 500 homeless individuals who live or spend nights at the Madrid airport.
The city government has criticised Aena’s “unilateral” decision to limit access and “imminently” evict this group from the airport.
Aena, meanwhile, has urged both the Madrid City Council and Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s regional government to seek a “dignified solution” for homeless people, arguing that they are the competent administrations to ensure social protection for these individuals.