Aena reported that during 2023 its 48 airports in Spain mobilized 283,195,399 passengers, which represented a growth of 16.2% compared to 2022, as well as 2.6% more than in 2019, thus leaving behind the recovery period after the pandemic.
Of that total, 282,388,924 corresponded to commercial passengers, and in turn 189,725,690 belong to the segment of international flights, an 18.2% increase compared to 2022, and 92,663,234 to domestic flights, 12.6% more.
Regarding aircraft movement, the network handled 2,403,918 operations, 8.5% more than in 2022.
Air cargo, for its part, had a growth of 7.9% compared to 2022, with the record figure of 1,079,676 tons of goods managed.
“Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport recorded the highest number of passengers in 2023 with 60,220,984, which represents a growth of 18.9% compared to 2022,” detailed Aena.
“They are followed by Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, with 49,909,544 (+19.9% compared to 2022); Palma de Mallorca, with 31,105,987 (+8.9%); Málaga-Costa del Sol, with 22,344,373 (+21.1%); Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, with 15,747,678 (+19.2%); Gran Canaria, with 13,961,638 (+12.4%); Tenerife Sur, with 12,337,244 (+14%); and Valencia, with 9,948,141 (+22.6%),” they added.
Considering the number of air operations, “the airport with the most movements in 2023 was Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, with a total of 389,179 (+10.6% compared to 2022), followed by Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, with 318,957 flights (+12.5%); Palma de Mallorca, with 228,920 (+3.7%); Málaga-Costa del Sol, with 161,684 (+12.2%); Gran Canaria, with 129,552 (+8.4%); and Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, with 100,547 landings and takeoffs (+11.6%),” explained Aena.
And regarding cargo, “the airport with the highest volume of cargo was Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, with 643,535 tons, a 13.6% increase compared to 2022. They are followed by the airports Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, which recorded 156,485 tons (+0.6%); Zaragoza, with 129,753 tons (+2.2%); and Vitoria, with 71,689 tons.”
“These record figures in air transport are fundamental for the economic and social development of Spain. We should all congratulate ourselves for these results. Airlines which, like Aena, suffered the harsh consequences of the pandemic, are now transporting more passengers than ever,” concluded Maurici Lucena, chairman and CEO of Aena.
