Landing in international markets
From Aena Internacional’s legal department, María de los Reyes Escrig manages the regulatory challenges of the group’s global expansion
by ilaria iaquinta
Leading the international legal department at Aena Desarrollo Internacional, María de los Reyes Escrig Teigeiro coordinates the legal aspects of the airport group’s operations across multiple markets from Spain. It is a considerable challenge, given that each country operates under distinct regulatory frameworks and faces unique hurdles.
“Aena Internacional is the subsidiary driving our expansion beyond Spain, with majority stakes in Brazil and the United Kingdom, as well as minority interests in Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica”, Escrig explains. The general counsel’s daily work revolves around three key areas: internal legal advisory, coordination of acquisition and expansion operations, and legal oversight of international subsidiaries. “Our role not only ensures regulatory compliance but also safeguards the company’s interests in each market and aligns the legal strategy with Aena’s overall objectives”, she emphasises.
CHALLENGES
Managing airport concessions in such diverse markets entails facing multiple regulatory and operational challenges. “When we operate outside Spain, we must keep an open mind to understand different regulations and cultures. Sector-specific regulations, concession conditions, legal security aspects, and even the political context can have a decisive impact on each project”, she explains. In this regard, conducting thorough due diligence is essential. “We do not just analyse purely legal aspects, but also the country’s political and economic stability. Identifying potential risks before starting operations is crucial”, she adds. A key challenge is harmonising different regulatory frameworks within a common operational model, ensuring consistency across all jurisdictions. To navigate this complexity, the support of external advisors specialising in international airport regulations is fundamental. “We seek reputable firms with specific expertise in airport concessions and the ability to manage international projects. We particularly value agility, cost transparency, and the capacity to coordinate advisory services across different jurisdictions”, she explains.
Among the key criteria, the digitalisation of document management and the ability to meet tight deadlines—common in acquisition or international bidding processes—are also highlighted. Maintaining continuous and fluid relationships with these advisors is essential to respond swiftly to unforeseen changes. Moreover, Escrig emphasises the importance of cultural adaptation in legal management. “It is not just about knowing the law, but also about understanding how to apply it in each specific cultural context. Flexibility and empathy towards different ways of working in other countries are key to our success”. In this sense, having local teams in each subsidiary proves to be a decisive strategy, as it allows for greater agility in decision-making and a better understanding of each country’s regulatory framework.
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