Aena reported that during 2022 its 48 airports in Spain mobilized 243,681,775 passengers, which represented a recovery of 88.5% compared to the 2019 figure, sustaining the trend observed throughout the year that reached a peak in December when 98.1% of traffic recovered compared to that same month prior to the pandemic.
Of that total, 242,881,309 corresponded to commercial passengers, of which 160,561,605 were international passengers, 15% less than in 2019, and 82,319,704 were domestic passengers, 3.8% less.
In terms of aircraft movement, the Aena’s network handled 2,216,327, operations, a 93.9% recovery over 2019 levels.
Air cargo meanwhile saw a 6.5% retraction compared to 2019, with 1,000,356 tons of goods handled.
«Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport recorded the highest number of passengers in 2022 with 50,633,652, representing a decrease of 18% compared to 2019,» detailed Aena.
«This was followed by Barcelona-El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport, with 41,639,622 and a 21% decrease over 2019; Palma de Mallorca Airport, with 28,573,364 (-3.9%); Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, with 18,457,194 (-7.1%), Alicante-Elche Airport, with 13,202,880 (-12.3%); Gran Canaria Airport, with 12,417,699 (-6.4%); Tenerife Sur Airport, with 10,821,703 (-3.1%); Ibiza Airport, with 8,156,675 (0%), and Valencia Airport, with 8,114,852, which is a 5% decrease compared to 2019,» they added.
Considering the number of air operations, «the airport that recorded the highest number in 2022 was Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, with a total of 351,906 (-17.5%), followed by Barcelona-El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport with 283,394 (-17.8%); Palma de Mallorca Airport, with 220,690 (+1.6%); Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, with 144,107 (-0.6%); Gran Canaria Airport, with 119,530 (-5.5%); Alicante-Elche Airport, with 90,109 (-11.1%); Ibiza Airport, with 80,723 (+7.1%); Tenerife Sur Airport, with 75,605 (+7.6%), and Valencia Airport, with 73,498, representing a decrease of 5.4% over the data from 2019,» Aena explained.
And in terms of cargo, «the four airports that recorded the highest traffic of cargo last year were Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, with a total of 566,373 tonnes (+1.1%); Barcelona-El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport, with 155,600 (-12%); Zaragoza Airport, with 126,957 tonnes (-30.5%), and Vitoria Airport, with 73,620 tonnes and an increase of 14.2% compared to 2019.»