Airport operator Aena released fresh traffic data on 15 December showing that 22 of the 46 airports in its Spanish network achieved their highest November passenger totals in history. Overall, the network handled 22.54 million passengers last month—up 4.6 % year-on-year—while aircraft movements rose 2.5 % to 198,078 and cargo throughput jumped 10.5 %.
Madrid-Barajas led with 5.49 million travellers (+3.9 %), followed by Barcelona-El Prat (4.25 million, +5.1 %) and Málaga-Costa del Sol (1.75 million, +8.7 %). Growth was particularly strong at secondary airports such as Alicante, Valencia and Sevilla, underlining the resurgence of regional business hubs and “bleisure” destinations popular with remote workers on Spain’s digital-nomad visa.
Against this backdrop, VisaHQ can help mobility managers stay ahead of documentation hurdles. Through its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/), the platform consolidates Schengen, digital-nomad and category-D work-permit requirements, enables online applications and provides real-time tracking, giving assignees one less bottleneck when flights are filling up fast.
![Aena reports best ever November: 22 Spanish airports hit all-time passenger records]()
For global-mobility teams the figures signal tighter seat availability—especially on intra-EU routes where capacity is still below 2019 levels—just as companies ramp up Q1 2026 assignment rotations. Airlines are likely to respond with fare increases: advance purchase business-class fares on Madrid-Frankfurt for late January are already 12 % higher than the same period last year, according to GDS snapshots.
Aena’s data also show cargo volumes at Zaragoza and Madrid growing at double-digit rates, buoyed by near-shoring of pharma and e-commerce supply chains. Relocation managers moving time-critical shipments of household goods or lab samples may therefore benefit from expanded freighter frequencies.
Looking ahead, Aena plans €1.5 billion in terminal expansions at Málaga and Valencia, and will publish a draft slot-coordination plan for summer 2026 in March—critical reading for travel departments that rely on peak-hour departures.
Madrid-Barajas led with 5.49 million travellers (+3.9 %), followed by Barcelona-El Prat (4.25 million, +5.1 %) and Málaga-Costa del Sol (1.75 million, +8.7 %). Growth was particularly strong at secondary airports such as Alicante, Valencia and Sevilla, underlining the resurgence of regional business hubs and “bleisure” destinations popular with remote workers on Spain’s digital-nomad visa.
Against this backdrop, VisaHQ can help mobility managers stay ahead of documentation hurdles. Through its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/), the platform consolidates Schengen, digital-nomad and category-D work-permit requirements, enables online applications and provides real-time tracking, giving assignees one less bottleneck when flights are filling up fast.
For global-mobility teams the figures signal tighter seat availability—especially on intra-EU routes where capacity is still below 2019 levels—just as companies ramp up Q1 2026 assignment rotations. Airlines are likely to respond with fare increases: advance purchase business-class fares on Madrid-Frankfurt for late January are already 12 % higher than the same period last year, according to GDS snapshots.
Aena’s data also show cargo volumes at Zaragoza and Madrid growing at double-digit rates, buoyed by near-shoring of pharma and e-commerce supply chains. Relocation managers moving time-critical shipments of household goods or lab samples may therefore benefit from expanded freighter frequencies.
Looking ahead, Aena plans €1.5 billion in terminal expansions at Málaga and Valencia, and will publish a draft slot-coordination plan for summer 2026 in March—critical reading for travel departments that rely on peak-hour departures.
