Spain’s airport operator Aena expects 16,428 take-offs and landings between Friday 26 and Sunday 28 December, a 3.2 percent increase on the same weekend last year, according to figures released on 27 December. Madrid-Barajas leads with 3,292 movements, followed by Barcelona-El Prat (2,753) and Málaga-Costa del Sol (1,285).
Whether you’re a business traveler racing to close year-end deals or an expatriate family member heading home, making sure your paperwork is in order can save countless hours at the airport. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) simplifies Spanish visa applications, provides real-time status alerts, and offers expert guidance—giving corporate mobility managers and individual passengers one less variable to worry about during this busy travel window.
The robust schedule underlines the resilience of Spain’s aviation sector even as ground-handling strikes at Barajas and selective walkouts at Ryanair bases threaten punctuality. Unions representing handling staff accuse subcontractors of excessive overtime demands, while Ryanair ground teams continue a rolling protest over pay and scheduling that is set to run into January.
![Aena forecasts record 16,428 flights over year-end weekend despite strikes]()
For corporate mobility managers, the data is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the increased capacity means more seat options for relocating staff and short-notice business trips. On the other, the labour unrest adds unpredictability during a period when many expatriate families are returning from holiday leave. Aena recommends passengers arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours for Schengen or intercontinental services, mirroring airline guidance.
Travel-risk consultants advise companies to book flexible fares and monitor airport-specific strike notices, noting that Spanish law requires minimum-service guarantees but does not cover connecting flights missed due to earlier disruptions. Travellers transiting Madrid on their way to Latin America—a common route for Spanish multinationals—are particularly exposed.
Aena’s year-end outlook suggests that total Christmas-period traffic (19 December–7 January) will reach 101,793 flights, up almost eight percent year-on-year, putting additional strain on border-control resources already stretched by the EES rollout.
Whether you’re a business traveler racing to close year-end deals or an expatriate family member heading home, making sure your paperwork is in order can save countless hours at the airport. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) simplifies Spanish visa applications, provides real-time status alerts, and offers expert guidance—giving corporate mobility managers and individual passengers one less variable to worry about during this busy travel window.
The robust schedule underlines the resilience of Spain’s aviation sector even as ground-handling strikes at Barajas and selective walkouts at Ryanair bases threaten punctuality. Unions representing handling staff accuse subcontractors of excessive overtime demands, while Ryanair ground teams continue a rolling protest over pay and scheduling that is set to run into January.
For corporate mobility managers, the data is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the increased capacity means more seat options for relocating staff and short-notice business trips. On the other, the labour unrest adds unpredictability during a period when many expatriate families are returning from holiday leave. Aena recommends passengers arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours for Schengen or intercontinental services, mirroring airline guidance.
Travel-risk consultants advise companies to book flexible fares and monitor airport-specific strike notices, noting that Spanish law requires minimum-service guarantees but does not cover connecting flights missed due to earlier disruptions. Travellers transiting Madrid on their way to Latin America—a common route for Spanish multinationals—are particularly exposed.
Aena’s year-end outlook suggests that total Christmas-period traffic (19 December–7 January) will reach 101,793 flights, up almost eight percent year-on-year, putting additional strain on border-control resources already stretched by the EES rollout.
