All markets show an upward trend, with growth (+20%) in Italy, the United States and Poland standing out.

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Spain welcomes 95 million international air passengers in 2023

Spain received more than 95 million international air passengers in 2023, a historic figure that surpasses the previous record, which dates back to 2019, considered as the pre-pandemic reference. Specifically, our country received 25,032,138 international air passengers last year, 0.6% more than in 2019, which translates into 554,000 more travellers. About 2022, this year’s 95 million passengers are 18.1% more than the number of passengers in that year, according to data published today by Turespaña. Moreover, in December 2023, passengers arriving in Spain from international airports reached 6.7 million, 16% more than in the same month of 2022.

In December, passengers to Spain increased in all the main issuing countries and, in addition, all the markets showed notable increases, with significant growth of more than 20% in Italy, the United States and Poland.

The United Kingdom, with 1.3 million international passengers, generated 19.8% of the total flow of arrivals to Spain in December, registering a year-on-year increase of 13.8%. The Canary Islands was the largest recipient of arrivals, accounting for 39.3% of the total number of passengers of British origin.

Passenger arrivals from Germany stood at around 846,470 passengers in December (12.7% of the total) and an increase of 16.5%. Passengers mainly went to the Canary Islands (36.6% of passengers), although the rest of the Autonomous Communities also benefited to a greater or lesser extent from the increase in the arrival of German travellers.

Italy accounted for 9.9% of the passenger flow received in December (633,381 passengers), registering a year-on-year growth of 24.5%, which particularly benefited Catalonia and the Community of Madrid. The Basque Country, Navarre and Asturias also recorded growth of over 80%.

France issued 8% of the total number of passengers in December, showing an expansion of 7.9%, which particularly favoured Madrid and Catalonia, which together accounted for 58.1% of arrivals.

The Netherlands accounted for 4.8% of total arrivals. This market experienced a growth of 10.8% in December and its main destinations were Catalonia and Valencia, together accounting for 43% of arrivals.

The United Kingdom is the country that sent the most international air passengers in 2023, with more than 21 million an increase of 15% compared to 2022, followed by Germany (13 million) and Italy (almost 9 million). Concerning 2022, the country with the greatest increase in passengers is Poland, with 47.5% more, followed by Portugal, with 29.2%.

Autonomous Communities of Destination
The six main Autonomous Communities accounted for a 97% share of arrivals and experienced notable increases in December. The largest year-on-year increases – of 28.1% and 24.1% – were in Andalusia and Valencia.

In global terms in 2023, Madrid was the community that received the highest number of international air passengers, with more than 22 million, followed by Catalonia, with more than 19 million, and the Canary Islands, with around 14 million. In addition, the largest increases compared to 2022 were in Valencia, Catalonia and Andalusia, with rises of over 21%.

More than half, of Europeans
56.5% of the total number of passengers in December came from the European Union, an increase of 17.4%, while the flow from the rest of the world, which accounted for the remaining 43.5%, grew by 19%.

Airports with the most arrivals
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport received the most arrivals in December, with 1.7 million arrivals, followed by Barcelona airport, with 1.3 million, and Malaga airport, with 544,989. The largest year-on-year increases were seen at Malaga airport, up 27.1%, Palma de Mallorca, up 26.2%, and Barcelona, up 20.9% on the same month in 2022.

Overall in 2023, the airports that experienced the greatest increase were Valencia, with 27% more than in 2022, Barcelona, with 23.1% more and Madrid, with 21.7%. The three airports with the highest number of international air passengers last year were Barajas, with more than 20 million, Barcelona, with more than 16 million, and Palma de Mallorca, with more than 11 million.