Enaire marked a historic milestone in July by guiding an unprecedented total of air traffic across Spain, recording 223,107 monthly transactions. This figure represents a 1.1% rise against the same month in 2019, translating to an average of 7,197 flights each day and a 6.6% increase compared with the previous year when viewed in the broader recovery context. The data underscore a steady rebound in air navigation activity as disruptions from the pandemic recede and the sector regains momentum.
Within the overall total, international routes accounted for 131,141 movements, up 7.2% year over year; domestic or local flights reached 42,269, a 3% increase; and top outbound or high-traffic services numbered 49,697, rising 8.4%. The distribution highlights stronger traffic managed across all air traffic control centers under Enaire’s supervision, signaling broad-based improvements in operational performance and efficiency as demand returns.
In response to the 1.1% growth reported by Enaire, the European average for July stood at 6.8% below the 2019 level, indicating that Spain outpaced regional trends during the month. Additionally, Enaire surpassed a July record on the 22nd by handling 7,449 flights, exceeding the 7,425 flights achieved in July 2019, a sign of sustained sector momentum.
The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda notes that these figures point to a clear recovery for the aviation industry after the lockdown pressures of the pandemic. Industry leaders emphasize Enaire’s leadership among Europe’s air navigation service providers in recent years, contributing to a faster-than-expected rebound and renewed confidence in the sector.
Rachel Sanchez, the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, welcomed the July numbers and described the month as historic for Spain’s aviation sector. The official highlighted the significance of the performance in affirming Spain’s central role in the tourism economy, which accounts for about 12% of GDP, and its positive impact on employment and overall wealth creation.
During the first seven months of the year, the national air navigation authority recorded a total of 1,236,835 flights, reflecting a 12.7% increase relative to the same period in 2022 and showing a performance level comparable to 2019 when roughly 1.23 million flights were managed.
International flights in this seven-month window reached 694,781, up 10.6%; domestic flights numbered 254,970, up 8.9%; and overflights with origins or destinations outside Spain stood at 287,084, an increase of 21.9%. The growth across these components reinforces the resilience and adaptability of Spain’s air transport system as demand continues to recover and travelers resume confidence in air travel.
Across the seven-month span, all Enaire air traffic control centers posted higher flight counts. Seville reported a 16.8% increase with 279,650 flights; Barcelona registered 579,315, up 13.1%; Madrid reached 678,907, up 12.6%; Canarias logged 214,870, up 10.2%; and Palma completed the trend with 198,657 flights, a 3.8% rise, illustrating widespread regional gains in traffic management and signaling durable momentum across Spain’s air traffic network.