Passengers in May increase by 0.8% compared to 2024
Balearic Islands have received more than 4.3 million international passengers between January and May of this year, representing an increase of 4.8% compared to the same period last year, according to data published on Wednesday by Turespaña.
Out of this figure, over 3.2 million arrived on low-cost airlines (+6.5%) and the remaining 1.1 million on traditional airlines (+0.1%).
Only in May, the number of international passengers in the Islands was slightly over two million, a 0.8% increase from May of last year; out of which 1.4 million arrived on low-cost airlines (+3.2%) and 585,094 were travelers on traditional airlines (-4.7%).
Until the fifth month of the year, Palma airport has received 3.5 million international passengers (+4.6%) and Ibiza, 596,094 (+3.2%).
NATIONAL DATA
Meanwhile, Spain received 41.3 million international air passengers in the first five months of the year, a 6.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from Turespaña released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
Only in the month of May, international passengers from airports amounted to 10.5 million, a 5.4% increase from the same month last year.
In May, there was an increase in international passenger arrivals from the main emitting markets, except for Germany, «continuing the upward trend seen since the end of the pandemic,» highlighted the Department led by Jordi Hereu.
Specifically, around 2.5 million international passengers arrived from the United Kingdom in May, a 6.2% year-on-year increase, accounting for 23.9% of the total arrival flow to Spain. Arrivals in the Balearic Islands from the British accounted for 25% of passengers, followed by the Canary Islands with a 21% share. In year-on-year variation rates, Galicia and the Basque Country saw growth rates of over 30%.
From Germany, 1.4 million passengers flew to Spain in May (13.8% of the total), with a 2.3% year-on-year decrease. Although the Balearic Islands were the main recipients, with a 45% share of arrivals, these decreased by 7.4%. The Canary Islands and the Community of Madrid, with passenger shares of 11% and 9% respectively, also experienced declines.
Italy accounted for 9.4% of the passenger flow received in May (985,085), with a year-on-year growth of 11.1%, benefiting all communities except Galicia, which experienced a decline. The Community of Madrid and Catalonia together accounted for 56.7% of arrivals. In year-on-year variations, the Basque Country showed an increase of almost 48% compared to the same month of the previous year.
France accounted for 7.7% of total passengers in May, showing a 5.6% expansion. Catalonia and Madrid accounted for 46.5% of total arrivals, but it was the Balearic Islands that showed the biggest increase, receiving over 20,000 additional international passengers compared to the same month the previous year. The Valencian Community, Galicia, and Asturias also showed good performance, according to the Ministry.
Finally, passengers arriving in May from the Netherlands represented 4.9% of the total in May, with a 6.7% increase. They mainly headed to Catalonia and the Valencian Community, with shares close to 20% in both cases. All communities except the Canary Islands saw year-on-year growth, with Andalusia standing out.
In market diversification, countries in the Persian Gulf, China, South Korea, and Turkey also showed positive developments in May.
BARAJAS LEADS ARRIVALS
The six main autonomous communities (Community of Madrid, Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Andalusia, and Valencian Community) accounted for 96.9% of total arrivals in May, all registering increases, with Andalusia showing the most intense growth (+10.6%) and the Balearic Islands the most moderate (+0.8%). In the category of ‘other communities,’ growth approached 10%.
Catalonia received the highest number of passengers, with 21.1% of arrivals, and led the flow of arrivals on low-cost airlines (CBC), with a 23.6% market share. Among traditional airlines, Madrid accounted for 42.4% of arrivals, and the Valencian Community saw the most significant year-on-year growth in this category (+11.7%).
Regarding airports, Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas received the most arrivals in May, with 2.19 million (+3.1%), followed by Barcelona, with 1.9 million international passengers (+5.9%), and Palma, with 1.5 million arrivals and a 0.2% decrease.
The largest year-on-year increase was recorded at Valencia airport, with a 12.2% increase in arrivals compared to May of the previous year, closely followed by Sevilla with a 12.1% increase.
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FUENTE