Spanish airport operator Aena closed 2025 with 384.8 million passengers across its global network—321.6 million of them in Spain—marking a 4.2 % year-on-year increase and the highest figure in its history. The data, released on 1 February 2026, confirm the post-pandemic boom that is reshaping corporate travel patterns.
Madrid-Barajas led domestic growth with 68.2 million travellers (+3 %), while Barcelona-El Prat jumped 4.4 % to 57.5 million. Holiday gateways Málaga (+7.4 %) and Alicante (+8.5 %) saw the fastest acceleration, underscoring Spain’s dual role as a tourism giant and near-shore hub for remote-work expatriates. Cargo throughput also hit a new high, with Barajas handling 840,000 tonnes (+9.6 %) and El Prat 200,700 tonnes (+10.5 %).
For mobility managers the numbers translate into fuller planes and tighter seat inventory on key domestic and European routes, especially during shoulder seasons that used to offer pricing relief. Airlines are already swapping in larger-gauge aircraft for the 2026 summer schedule, and slot coordinators warn that popular time-bands at Palma, Valencia and Seville are effectively saturated. Companies planning conferences in Spain should lock in group allocations early and budget for higher airfares.
![Aena posts all-time passenger record, signalling robust demand for Spain’s airports]()
To stay ahead of this rising demand, travel coordinators may also want to outsource visa and entry documentation: VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) streamlines Spanish visa applications, tracks forthcoming EES requirements and offers concierge support, freeing corporate teams to focus on negotiating rates and securing scarce seat blocks.
Aena says it is drafting a fresh investment plan to expand terminal and runway capacity in response to sustained demand and the EU-wide Entry/Exit System (EES) that becomes mandatory in April 2026. Business travellers can expect more self-service biometrics but also sporadic queues as new equipment beds in.
Outside Spain, Aena’s Brazilian airports handled 45.7 million passengers (+5.3 %), highlighting the operator’s growing Latin-American footprint—an increasingly important connection point for Spanish multinationals and relocation assignees.
Madrid-Barajas led domestic growth with 68.2 million travellers (+3 %), while Barcelona-El Prat jumped 4.4 % to 57.5 million. Holiday gateways Málaga (+7.4 %) and Alicante (+8.5 %) saw the fastest acceleration, underscoring Spain’s dual role as a tourism giant and near-shore hub for remote-work expatriates. Cargo throughput also hit a new high, with Barajas handling 840,000 tonnes (+9.6 %) and El Prat 200,700 tonnes (+10.5 %).
For mobility managers the numbers translate into fuller planes and tighter seat inventory on key domestic and European routes, especially during shoulder seasons that used to offer pricing relief. Airlines are already swapping in larger-gauge aircraft for the 2026 summer schedule, and slot coordinators warn that popular time-bands at Palma, Valencia and Seville are effectively saturated. Companies planning conferences in Spain should lock in group allocations early and budget for higher airfares.
To stay ahead of this rising demand, travel coordinators may also want to outsource visa and entry documentation: VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) streamlines Spanish visa applications, tracks forthcoming EES requirements and offers concierge support, freeing corporate teams to focus on negotiating rates and securing scarce seat blocks.
Aena says it is drafting a fresh investment plan to expand terminal and runway capacity in response to sustained demand and the EU-wide Entry/Exit System (EES) that becomes mandatory in April 2026. Business travellers can expect more self-service biometrics but also sporadic queues as new equipment beds in.
Outside Spain, Aena’s Brazilian airports handled 45.7 million passengers (+5.3 %), highlighting the operator’s growing Latin-American footprint—an increasingly important connection point for Spanish multinationals and relocation assignees.
