Airport operator Aena has confirmed that its global network moved 384.8 million passengers in 2025, up 4.2 % on 2024 and the highest figure in the company’s 30-year history. The data, published on 22 January, show Spanish airports alone processed 321.6 million travellers, with Madrid-Barajas crossing the 68-million mark and Barcelona-El Prat surpassing 57 million.
For mobility managers the headline is more than bragging rights: fuller flight schedules and rising cargo volumes translate into better seat availability and potentially lower fares for corporate travel programmes. Barajas recorded 430,616 aircraft movements (+2.5 %) and 840,331 tonnes of freight (+9.6 %), consolidating its role as the primary entry point for long-haul assignments into Iberia.
VisaHQ can help companies translate that increased airlift into seamless mobility: its Spain-dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) centralises visa and permit applications, offers real-time status tracking and bulk-processing tools, and equips HR teams to pre-empt any document issues before travellers reach the new biometric e-gates.
![Aena Airports Handle Record 385 Million Passengers in 2025, Boosting Spain’s Travel Capacity]()
The surge has prompted Aena to fast-track €2 billion in capacity upgrades, including additional automatic border-control e-gates designed to comply with the EU Entry/Exit System. Installation at Madrid and Barcelona is slated to begin in Q2 2026, giving companies a narrow window to familiarise travelling staff with new biometric procedures.
Internationally, Aena’s Brazilian concessions and London-Luton also hit records, signalling a rebound in feeder routes that connect Latin-American and UK talent pools to Spanish hubs. With airline seat capacity expected to grow a further 3 % in summer timetables, relocation planners should revisit preferred-carrier agreements and lock in allotments early.
However, unions warn that ground-handling staff shortages could return during Easter week if collective-bargaining talks stall. Contingency planning—especially for high-volume assignee moves—remains advisable.
For mobility managers the headline is more than bragging rights: fuller flight schedules and rising cargo volumes translate into better seat availability and potentially lower fares for corporate travel programmes. Barajas recorded 430,616 aircraft movements (+2.5 %) and 840,331 tonnes of freight (+9.6 %), consolidating its role as the primary entry point for long-haul assignments into Iberia.
VisaHQ can help companies translate that increased airlift into seamless mobility: its Spain-dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) centralises visa and permit applications, offers real-time status tracking and bulk-processing tools, and equips HR teams to pre-empt any document issues before travellers reach the new biometric e-gates.
The surge has prompted Aena to fast-track €2 billion in capacity upgrades, including additional automatic border-control e-gates designed to comply with the EU Entry/Exit System. Installation at Madrid and Barcelona is slated to begin in Q2 2026, giving companies a narrow window to familiarise travelling staff with new biometric procedures.
Internationally, Aena’s Brazilian concessions and London-Luton also hit records, signalling a rebound in feeder routes that connect Latin-American and UK talent pools to Spanish hubs. With airline seat capacity expected to grow a further 3 % in summer timetables, relocation planners should revisit preferred-carrier agreements and lock in allotments early.
However, unions warn that ground-handling staff shortages could return during Easter week if collective-bargaining talks stall. Contingency planning—especially for high-volume assignee moves—remains advisable.
