Plus Ultra rescue scandal prompts resignations of president and CEO

President Julio Martínez Sola and CEO Roberto Roselli have resigned from Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas while remaining under investigation for alleged misconduct surrounding the airline’s 53 million‑euro state rescue granted during the pandemic. The rescue, approved by the Spanish Council of Ministers in March 2021 and financed by the State‑owned SEPI, is suspected of having involved a 1 percent commission (about €530,000) paid to three companies linked to Julio Martínez Martínez for “accompaniment” services, as well as in‑kind benefits such as numerous business‑class flights.

Investigations by the Anti‑corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the UDEF have led to the detention and later release of the two executives in December 2025. Both have submitted written statements to the Audiencia Nacional acknowledging the payment structure. The case also implicates former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is accused of exercising influence to favour the rescue; Zapatero denies any wrongdoing.

Hugo Castaño, a minority shareholder, is set to assume the combined role of president and CEO pending SEPI’s approval. The scandal has drawn intense political scrutiny, with the judiciary summoning the former executives to testify and questioning the legality of the rescue process.