Iberia and Renfe Prepare Big Christmas Boost in 2024
Renfe, the Spanish rail operator, will offer around 5 million seats across roughly 25,000 trains this Christmas season. The plan marks a stronger capacity increase than last year, with more than 200,000 extra seats and 2,000 additional trains in the mix as the operator expands service to meet holiday demand. The Canary Islands feature prominently as a top destination in the travel mix for many travelers this season.
Christmas travel is expected to be smoother this year, even as airline disruptions linger. Pilots in a long-running strike at Air Nostrum, together with cabin crew concerns at Ryanair and ongoing action by some Vueling personnel, add a note of caution for travelers. The strike activity has persisted even after initial airport stoppages were canceled by some unions, underscoring the broader labor tensions in the sector.
Iberia Express will add more than 24,500 seats and push strong offers, especially toward the Canary Islands. Air Europa strengthens its schedule with 17,000 new seats, adding flights from the peninsula to the Canary and Balearic Islands to meet peak demand. These changes expand the European network and extend connections to the Caribbean as demand centers shift for the holidays.
Iberia Express Adds 136 Flights
Renfe will release a capacity increase of about 5 million seats on 25,000 trains this year, reinforcing the overall offer with more than 200,000 places and 2,000 trains compared with the prior season.
Iberia Express, the low-cost unit of Iberia within the IAG group, will operate 136 additional flights, 68 outbound and 68 returns, during the Christmas period, adding 24,600 seats from late December through January 9. The Canary Islands will see 102 additional flights in total, including 51 one-way and 51 return services, accounting for about 75 percent of the extra connections and delivering 18,560 additional seats beyond regular capacity. The upgrade also enhances routes to European capitals such as London, Berlin, Lyon and Dublin, with Dublin enjoying 11 round-trip services, nearly a 50 percent increase over typical schedules.
Sources within the Iberia Group briefed Efe that Christmas and the first quarter of the next year are tracking at normal seasonal levels with strong demand. The most sought destinations include the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and major European hubs like Paris and Amsterdam. In the longer term, the United States stands out as a key market during Christmas, with more than a 15 percent growth observed in the winter season.
The Christmas drive at Air Europa includes more than 4,800 extra seats on routes between the peninsula and the Balearic and Canary Islands. From December 21 to January 4, the Boeing 737 will operate 27 new flights linking Madrid with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, and Palma de Mallorca with Madrid, Bilbao and Granada. Capacity will rise across a network of European destinations with 7,400 additional seats to Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, Zurich, Paris and London. Globalia will also bolster its long-haul operations with 4,600 extra seats on the Madrid to Punta Cana route, connecting the Dominican Republic with Miami, Caracas and San Juan de Puerto Rico.
Small Strikes, Big Impacts
The Sepla pilots’ union at Air Nostrum has announced a 24-hour strike on December 22 and 23, followed by dates on December 26, 27, 29 and 30, and January 2 and 3. They seek updates to the CPI in a new round of bargaining talks. Ryanair cabin crew actions, led by USO and Sitcpla, have continued for months, with work stoppages typically scheduled Monday through Thursday through January 7. Vueling, part of the IAG family, has canceled flights through January 6 to avoid disruption linked to a Stavla union-led cabin crew walkout. The airline confirms there are no immediate sale cancellations tied to these events at present.
These labor actions come as carriers work to manage capacity and maintain schedules amid an uncertain economic outlook. Travelers are advised to check updates before planning trips, as last-minute changes are possible due to strike activity in several sectors of the industry.
Recovery Yet Priced-In Optimism
Despite higher travel costs, the industry outlook remains constructive. The Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies notes very positive bookings for Christmas and the first quarter, with strong occupancy on major routes and expanding offers and available seats. Resorts, especially ski destinations, are reporting open and ready operations. The sector has rebuilt substantially since 2021 and is approaching pre-pandemic levels, though total tourism GDP for the year is expected to end slightly below 2019, with a projected year-over-year improvement in 2023 as conditions stabilize. Economic analyses from CaixaBank reinforce a cautiously upbeat view for the sector during the holiday period and into early next year.