Spanish airport operator Aena started 2026 with 20.3 million passengers across its domestic network—up 2.6 percent year-on-year but well below the 6.1 percent jump recorded a year earlier, according to figures released on 15 February. Total group traffic, including Brazil and London-Luton, reached 25.8 million (+3.3 percent). Aircraft movements dipped 0.6 percent in Spain, underscoring a subtle shift from pandemic-era catch-up growth to more moderate expansion.
Madrid-Barajas retained the top spot with 5.38 million passengers (+3.5 percent), followed by Barcelona-El Prat (3.81 million, +3 percent) and Málaga (1.44 million, +5.1 percent). Tenerife South was the only major airport to post a decline (-1 percent) as technical woes at its biometric kiosks slowed throughput.
![Aena January Data Show Passenger Growth Cooling but Cargo Sets New Record]()
For international passengers planning trips through these hubs, VisaHQ offers an easy online platform to verify Spain’s entry requirements and secure visas or transit documents in advance—saving time at congested airports like Barajas or El Prat. Travelers can start the process here: https://www.visahq.com/spain/
Cargo was the bright spot: volumes surged 7.1 percent nationally, with Barcelona up 16.5 percent and Zaragoza almost 20 percent. The figures suggest that while leisure demand may be plateauing, Spain’s export-oriented manufacturers and e-commerce firms continue to drive air-freight resilience.
For mobility planners the takeaway is nuanced. Slot availability at Madrid and Barcelona remains tight despite slower growth, meaning corporate travel bookers should still secure peak-hour flights early. Meanwhile, robust cargo numbers hint at continuing pressure on belly-hold capacity—important for firms shipping time-critical components alongside personnel.
Madrid-Barajas retained the top spot with 5.38 million passengers (+3.5 percent), followed by Barcelona-El Prat (3.81 million, +3 percent) and Málaga (1.44 million, +5.1 percent). Tenerife South was the only major airport to post a decline (-1 percent) as technical woes at its biometric kiosks slowed throughput.
For international passengers planning trips through these hubs, VisaHQ offers an easy online platform to verify Spain’s entry requirements and secure visas or transit documents in advance—saving time at congested airports like Barajas or El Prat. Travelers can start the process here: https://www.visahq.com/spain/
Cargo was the bright spot: volumes surged 7.1 percent nationally, with Barcelona up 16.5 percent and Zaragoza almost 20 percent. The figures suggest that while leisure demand may be plateauing, Spain’s export-oriented manufacturers and e-commerce firms continue to drive air-freight resilience.
For mobility planners the takeaway is nuanced. Slot availability at Madrid and Barcelona remains tight despite slower growth, meaning corporate travel bookers should still secure peak-hour flights early. Meanwhile, robust cargo numbers hint at continuing pressure on belly-hold capacity—important for firms shipping time-critical components alongside personnel.
