Urban Transportation
In May, public transport saw continued momentum with a substantial rise in usage. The total number of urban transport users surpassed the 284 million mark, reflecting a 19.9 percent increase from the same month a year earlier. The metro system contributed a notable share to this rise, recording a 19 percent gain. Among urban networks, the Málaga metro stood out with the most impressive expansion, climbing by 106.9 percent. These figures come from the National Institute of Statistics INE, which highlights a broad-based uplift across major urban areas. The only notable decline within urban lines occurred in Sevilla, where volumes fell by 4 percent. Source: INE.
When examining bus transport, May showed a robust regional upswing across the autonomous communities, with a national rise of 20.6 percent. Palma documented the strongest bus growth at 44 percent, while Seville posted the smallest increase at 7 percent. In line with these patterns, early May activity suggests a broadening of urban mobility options and a shift toward greater reliance on bus networks in several cities. Source: INE.
Across the broader May period, the bus sector experienced widespread gains, driven by strong performance in the Canary Islands at 42.8 percent, followed by Castilla y León at 28.5 percent and Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha both around 28.4 percent. Regions such as Catalonia, the Community of Madrid, Andalucía, and Aragón posted more modest growth close to 11.9 percent and 18.5 percent respectively. These shifts illustrate how regional dynamics influence public transport use and how networks respond to varying local conditions. Source: INE.
Note from INE indicates that certain autonomous communities and cities, including the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Navarra, the Foral Community of La Rioja, and municipal areas Ceuta and Melilla, are not published separately to protect statistical confidentiality. This ensures data remains accurate while respecting privacy. Source: INE.
Intercity Transportation
Intercity travel continued to gain traction in May, with more than 130.4 million passengers. This marks a 16.6 percent increase compared with May of the previous year, underscoring growing demand for longer-range connections. Source: INE.
Breakdowns by transport type show railway growing at 17.9 percent, while bus services rose by 15.8 percent. Air travel posted a 13.5 percent increase, and sea travel climbed 8.9 percent. These numbers reflect a broad-based improvement across modalities, suggesting a healthier intercity mobility landscape. Source: INE.
Cercanías services, which connect suburbs and nearby towns, expanded 12.5 percent in bus transport and 15.4 percent in rail transport. Medium-distance bus travel surged by 24.3 percent, and rail transport by 51.7 percent. Long-distance travel also rose, with bus transportation up 24.6 percent and rail up 24 percent, while Alta Velocidad high-speed rail grew by 34.5 percent. These trends illustrate how intercity networks adapt to both regional demand and broader transportation policies. Source: INE.
Private and On-Demand Transport
In May, private and on-demand transportation services accounted for 53.2 million users, reflecting a 1.9 percent annual increase. This segment shows steady, albeit modest, growth as urban mobility increasingly blends traditional private travel with flexible on-demand options. Source: INE.
Meanwhile, the number of passengers using private transport overall declined by 4.2 percent, surpassing 33 million users. Within this segment, school-related trips fell by 3.1 percent, while work-related travel dropped by 8.3 percent, signaling shifts in daily routines and commuting patterns. Source: INE.
On-demand transport recovered strongly, rising 13.6 percent compared with May of the prior year and exceeding 20.1 million riders. This uptick aligns with broader trends toward convenient, scalable mobility solutions that complement fixed-route services. Source: INE.