Airport operator Aena told Europa Press on 18 December that its 46-airport network expects to handle 101,793 commercial flights between 19 December and 7 January, reflecting robust post-pandemic demand and a one-day longer peak window. Madrid-Barajas alone will manage more than 1,100 movements on the busiest days, while Barcelona-El Prat, Málaga and Palma will post double-digit growth.
Business-travel analysts note that the extra capacity comes despite continued slot-coordination challenges linked to the phased roll-out of the EU Entry/Exit System. Aena says its soft-launch of biometrics has not materially slowed boarding processes, with average security-checkpoint wait times under nine minutes so far in December.
![Spanish airports schedule 101,793 flights for holiday period—up 7.8 % on 2024]()
For corporate travel managers, the uplift offers more seat inventory but also raises the likelihood of weather-related disruptions—particularly at mountain-proximate hubs such as Bilbao. Companies should remind assignees to arrive early and, where possible, preload passport data into airlines’ biometric apps to speed EES enrolment.
When itinerary changes pop up, ensuring travel documents remain valid can be just as critical as rebooking flights. VisaHQ’s Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) lets organisations verify visa requirements, submit digital applications and monitor approval status in real time, giving mobility teams a convenient safety net during the busy holiday period.
Aena added that it will deploy 350 temporary customer-service agents fluent in English and Mandarin to support first-time travellers—useful for multinationals flying in Asian delegations for January kick-off meetings.
Business-travel analysts note that the extra capacity comes despite continued slot-coordination challenges linked to the phased roll-out of the EU Entry/Exit System. Aena says its soft-launch of biometrics has not materially slowed boarding processes, with average security-checkpoint wait times under nine minutes so far in December.
For corporate travel managers, the uplift offers more seat inventory but also raises the likelihood of weather-related disruptions—particularly at mountain-proximate hubs such as Bilbao. Companies should remind assignees to arrive early and, where possible, preload passport data into airlines’ biometric apps to speed EES enrolment.
When itinerary changes pop up, ensuring travel documents remain valid can be just as critical as rebooking flights. VisaHQ’s Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) lets organisations verify visa requirements, submit digital applications and monitor approval status in real time, giving mobility teams a convenient safety net during the busy holiday period.
Aena added that it will deploy 350 temporary customer-service agents fluent in English and Mandarin to support first-time travellers—useful for multinationals flying in Asian delegations for January kick-off meetings.
