Spanish airports managed by Aena handled over 247m passengers in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 3.9pc increase from the previous year, with September alone seeing 19.8m travellers, up 4.5pc. Madrid-Barajas led with 6.3m visitors in September, followed by Barcelona-El Prat at 5.27m, reflecting sustained demand despite global uncertainties.
The surge underscores Spain’s position as a top European tourism hub, with 17 airports achieving their best September on record. Cargo volumes rose 6.1pc to 980,804 tonnes, while aircraft movements climbed 4.2pc to 2.06m.
Airlines attribute the growth to resilient leisure travel, though they warn of potential slowdowns if airport fees rise as proposed for 2026.
