In September 2024, the number of international air passengers arriving in Spain reached 10.6 million, reflecting a 10.1% increase compared to the same month last year, according to data released by Turespaña. This growth continues the positive trend seen in the earlier quarters of the year. From January to September, Spain has welcomed a total of 81.7 million international passengers, marking an 11.7% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Of the total passengers in September, 55.7% came from the European Union, with a year-on-year growth of 9.9%, while the remaining 44.3% arrived from outside the EU, showing a 10.5% increase. The main source markets have all seen growth compared to 2023, further solidifying the trend toward destination diversification. Notable increases were seen in passengers from Latin American countries, with a 15.6% rise, Canada with an 18.3% increase, China with a 71.8% surge, and the Gulf countries with a 34.9% rise.
The United Kingdom remained the largest source of international passengers, contributing 22.6% of total arrivals in September, with a 6.2% year-on-year increase. The Balearic and Canary Islands were the top destinations for UK travelers, accounting for 47.5% of these passengers. Additionally, 80.5% of passengers from the UK traveled with low-cost airlines, with the UK continuing to lead in arrivals via these carriers.
Meanwhile, Germany accounted for 1.5 million passengers, representing 14.6% of the total and a 7.3% increase compared to September 2023. The Balearic Islands remained the primary destination for German travelers, with 46.3% of them heading there. Notably, 47.3% of German passengers flew with traditional airlines, with Germany leading the market in arrivals via these carriers.
Italy contributed 9.3% of international passengers, with nearly one million travelers and a 12.9% growth. Catalonia and Madrid were the top destinations, receiving 55.1% of Italian travelers. Both Andalusia and Canary Islands saw increases of more than 25%, while the Balearic Islands were the only region to receive fewer Italian passengers than the previous year.
France accounted for 7.2% of total passengers in September, with 755,125 travelers and a 6.9% increase. Madrid and Catalonia were the primary recipients of French travelers, with Catalonia seeing a notable increase of 25,656 additional passengers. 71.6% of French passengers traveled with low-cost airlines.
Passengers from the Netherlands represented 4.7% of total arrivals, with a 3.9% increase compared to September 2023. Catalonia and Valencia were the preferred destinations for Dutch travelers, while Andalusia saw a 15.4% rise in arrivals from this market.
Regarding Autonomous Communities, all major regions experienced growth in September. Valencia led with a 15.9% increase, while the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands showed more moderate growth, with 8.6% and 5% respectively. These figures, as in previous months, indicate a sustained trend toward greater diversification in international traveler destinations.
Finally, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport recorded the highest number of arrivals in September, with 2.26 million passengers, followed by Barcelona with 1.9 million, and Palma with 1.6 million. The most significant year-on-year growth was seen at Alicante Airport, with a 15.8% increase compared to September 2023.
