Fly the partly friendly skies...

Spain thinks the coast is clear for getting out from under its socialist past;

The Spanish government on Friday announced the launch of an operation to part-privatize the country’s state airport authority, Aena. The sale of a 49% stake in the body that runs the country’s airports will be the most significant privatization in the last 15 years in Spain, after the government’s attempt to float the state lottery ended in failure in 2011.

The state will retain control of the group once it is listed on the market, which is expected to take place in November, Public Works Minister Ana Pastor explained, speaking after the weekly Cabinet meeting. The operation is likely to inject around €2.45 billion into state coffers.

If they sold the whole thing they'd probably more than double that figure.