Economic recovery measures for transport and housing during COVID-19

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. Airports and airlines must apply the European EASA/ECDC guidelines to reduce the risk of infection: passenger information, health checks and mandatory masks in terminals.
2. Passengers with symptoms or in isolation must not go to the airport, and only ticket holders or people with boarding passes may enter the terminals, with a few exceptions.
3. Port fees are reduced to offset the impact of COVID-19: minimum traffic requirements for concessions can be lowered, the occupancy fee can be reduced based on the drop in activity, the ship fee is cut, and payment of port tax debts can be deferred for up to six months without interest or guarantees.
4. RENFE-Operadora may borrow up to 1,000 million euros in 2020, and an extraordinary credit of 110 million euros is granted to pay the company SEITTSA for railway infrastructure works.
5. Self-employed workers and road transport companies with revenue drops of at least 40% can request up to six months of deferral on the principal of loan, leasing or renting payments for their vehicles. Interest must still be paid during the deferral.
6. Contracts for regular road passenger transport services and concessions for toll highways, first-generation expressways and service areas can be economically rebalanced due to the drop in demand and disinfection costs, with short application deadlines.
7. Road transport paperwork is made more flexible: the renewal stamp on transport authorizations goes from every two years to every three, the deadline to reinstate revoked authorizations is extended by one year, ambulances over 10 years old may keep working until December 31, 2020, and vehicle inspection certificates expiring between June 21 and August 31 are extended by three months.
8. On housing, affordable or social rental is made easier through surface rights without fees, unspent funds from the 2018-2021 State Housing Plan can be reused, and loans under state housing plans keep their subsidized status even if deferred due to COVID-19. In addition, aid for vulnerable tenants, the extraordinary six-month extension of lease contracts and the guarantee of electricity, gas and water supply are extended until September 30, 2020.

Who it affects

• Airport managers and airlines: Must apply the European health guidelines, inform passengers and limit access to terminals.
• Air passengers: Must not go to the airport if they have symptoms or are in isolation, and must undergo health checks.
• Self-employed workers and road transport companies: Can request deferrals on vehicle payments and benefit from simplified paperwork.
• Port companies and concession holders: Port fees are reduced or deferred and they avoid losing rebates due to the drop in traffic.
• Tenants and households in vulnerable situations: Rent deferrals and waivers, lease extensions and guaranteed basic utilities are extended for them.

Words worth knowing

Derecho de superficie (surface right)

The right to use and build on someone else's land for a period of time, while the owner keeps ownership of the land.

Concesión demanial (public domain concession)

Permission to privately use a public asset, such as port land, for a set period.

Tasa de ocupación (occupancy fee)

The fee companies pay for occupying public port space.

Visado de autorizaciones de transporte (transport authorization renewal stamp)

A periodic review by the Administration to check that the company still meets the requirements of its transport authorization.

Gran tenedor (large landlord)

A person or entity owning more than ten urban properties, or more than 1,500 square meters of built space, excluding garages and storage rooms.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries