Spain’s airport operator Aena expects its network to handle 10,943 commercial flights on 3–4 January, a 5.5 % year-on-year increase and the highest volume ever recorded for the first weekend of a calendar year. Madrid-Barajas tops the ranking with 2,161 planned movements, followed by Barcelona-El Prat (1,831) and Málaga-Costa del Sol (873).
The surge reflects pent-up demand for post-holiday returns ahead of the 6 January Epiphany public holiday as well as solid inbound leisure traffic from the UK and Germany. Low-cost carriers Vueling and Ryanair have added 12 % more seats than last year, while Iberia has upgraded selected Europe rotations to wide-body A330s to meet baggage demand.
![Aena forecasts record 10,943 flights over first weekend of 2026]()
For global-mobility managers, the figures mean scarce seat inventory on key domestic feeders such as Bilbao-Madrid and Palma-Barcelona. Corporates relocating staff are advised to lock in flexible fares or consider rail options, particularly on the Madrid–Valencia AVE, which still shows availability.
Aena has deployed additional seasonal staff and installed temporary passport e-gate lines in Málaga and Palma, but unions warn that staffing shortages at security checkpoints could resurface if sick-leave rates spike.
The surge reflects pent-up demand for post-holiday returns ahead of the 6 January Epiphany public holiday as well as solid inbound leisure traffic from the UK and Germany. Low-cost carriers Vueling and Ryanair have added 12 % more seats than last year, while Iberia has upgraded selected Europe rotations to wide-body A330s to meet baggage demand.
For global-mobility managers, the figures mean scarce seat inventory on key domestic feeders such as Bilbao-Madrid and Palma-Barcelona. Corporates relocating staff are advised to lock in flexible fares or consider rail options, particularly on the Madrid–Valencia AVE, which still shows availability.
Aena has deployed additional seasonal staff and installed temporary passport e-gate lines in Málaga and Palma, but unions warn that staffing shortages at security checkpoints could resurface if sick-leave rates spike.
Source: Europa Press
