Air traffic in March showed a notable rise for ENAIRE, Spain’s air navigation service provider. Reports indicate that more than 158,400 flights were coordinated, a 17% increase from 2022 and already 1.1% above the record set for the same month in 2019. During the Holy Week period, from March 31 to April 9, ENAIRE handled 60,425 flights, marking a 4.7% gain compared with the corresponding stretch of the previous year (April 8 to 17). This solid performance signals a steady rebound in demand and operational capacity after the pandemic-induced lull. [Citation: ENAIRE statistics]
The Barcelona control center recorded the strongest growth with a 20.2% rise, totaling 66,310 operations. Seville followed with an 18.7% increase, reaching 37,988 flights. Madrid saw 93,116 movements, up by 14.5%. The Canary Islands reported 33,525 flights, up 12.5%, and Palma recorded 16,671 movements, an 11.2% improvement. These gains reflect a broad-based recovery across major hubs and a resilient European air travel market. [Citation: ENAIRE statistics]
above the European average
The March figures place Spain’s air traffic a notch above the European average for the same month, with growth overshadowing a broader regional trend. While the three-month period before the pandemic opened with a slightly different dynamic, the latest data still shows a strong uptrend. The first quarter of this year was marked by a partial rebound that edged close to pre-pandemic levels, underscoring sustained demand and robust operations. In the year-to-date comparison, flights rose by about a quarter compared with the same period in 2022, reflecting improved travel confidence and capacity management. [Citation: ENAIRE statistics]
Overall, air traffic in March advanced two points above the European average, spreading gains across the network of control centers and reinforcing a trend toward stabilization after a period of volatility in the sector. [Citation: ENAIRE statistics]
most international
In March, international flights accounted for 84,294 of the total 158,412 movements, a 15.3% year-over-year increase. National flights numbered 35,957, up 14.8%, while 38,161 top flights—defined as movements without a specified origin or destination at a Spanish airport—rose by 23.2%. The distribution illustrates Spain’s growing role in international connectivity and continued traffic diversification across domestic and cross-border routes. [Citation: ENAIRE statistics]