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.
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.
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.
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.
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.