According to Europa Press, the increase in air traffic during the Christmas campaign in Spain has tested the operational capacity of airports and inter-institutional coordination. This situation is exacerbated by the significant recovery of the sector compared to the years immediately after the pandemic, which requires constant adaptation of services and resources to cope with peaks in demand. In this context, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport stands out as the main driver of reactivation, registering the highest volume of operations during these holidays, reflecting the upward trend that characterizes national traffic. The Europa Press medium put the total number of scheduled flights at Madrid Airport between December 19, 2025 and January 7, 2026 at 21,305, an increase of 8.3% compared to the same period last year.
Aena and the various airlines have made reinforcements on all operational fronts to meet increased demand. According to Europa Press, the 101,793 flights planned across the Spanish airport network during the Christmas period represent an increase of 7.8% compared to the previous campaign, due to both improvements in connectivity and the inclusion of an additional day in this year’s planning. The expansion of flight offerings takes into account the growing need to cover national and international routes as well as the positive effects of restoring mobility after the health crisis. In addition to Barajas, the country’s main airports also recorded record numbers, demonstrating the sector’s recovery.
Europa Press explained that the Barcelona-El Prat infrastructures expect 17,217 operations, a growth of 8.7% compared to last year. Málaga-Costa del Sol will reach 8,051 flights, representing an increase of 12%, the largest percentage increase among the airports analyzed. In Gran Canaria, 7,347 aircraft movements are expected, a positive difference of 7.8%, while Palma de Mallorca expects 6,229 take-offs and landings, 8.5% more than on the same dates last year. These terminals concentrate a significant part of the traffic and require special adjustments in operational management.
According to Europa Press, the temporal distribution of flights shows peaks and troughs of activity depending on the holidays. December 25 is expected to be the lowest volume day with 3,515 transactions, although this figure represents 8.7% more than last Christmas’s records. The highest traffic volume is expected on Sunday, December 21st with 5,678 scheduled flights, and more than 5,000 flights will also take place on other days such as Friday, December 19th, December 28th and January 4th. 4,207 flights are planned for Christmas Eve, 77 more than last year; on New Year’s Eve 4,420 movements; on New Year’s Eve 4,901 flights, i.e. 452 more; and on Epiphany, January 6, the number is 4,595, with a smaller decrease compared to last year.
The expansion of operations has required an increase in the provision of human and technical resources, as Europa Press points out. Ground work teams have been expanded, baggage management has been optimized and travel information systems have been improved. Airport authorities have adjusted work shifts, coordinated more closely with emergency services and increased security controls on runways and terminals to minimize negative impacts from delays, incidents or adverse weather conditions.
According to Europa Press, operational dynamics vary depending on the type and strategic location of each airport. Some venues serve as international hubs or main routes to the islands, while others are national or regional tourism destinations. This places different strains on the systems and requires adjustment to the specific demand of each season. This diversity increases the complexity of the airport system and requires individual maintenance and planning.
According to Europa Press, the use of emergency plans is inevitable during the Christmas period. These plans include dedicated traffic monitoring, direct coordination of all personnel involved and the ability to respond to specific incidents, be they delays or adjustments for climatic or technical reasons. The experiences of the past few years have motivated operational learning and resulted in more robust protocols.
The impact of airport activities is not limited to flights and passenger mobility. Europa Press pointed out that the Christmas period has an impact on goods logistics and coordination with the tourism and catering chain. Airports are handling additional volumes of cargo and baggage, putting greater pressure on temporary storage and distribution facilities. To the increase in commercial flights comes the increase in ground operations, including collective and private transport, connecting the terminals with urban areas, a relevant aspect for the surrounding communities.
According to Europa Press, the aviation industry’s recovery is progressing towards similar numbers to pre-pandemic numbers. This return to the usual rhythm requires constant improvement of customer service and efficient integration of all the services that make the airport infrastructure function, from boarding and deplaning to incident management and facility maintenance. Flexibility and the ability to adapt to fluctuations in demand have become essential elements for operational success.
Additionally, the media highlighted the economic impact of the holiday season in destinations that rely on air mobility to attract visitors or facilitate family reunions. The impact is reflected in the revival of related sectors such as road and rail transport, hospitality and cultural offerings. The joint work between Aena and the airlines is to manage additional resources with the aim of ensuring service quality and minimizing setbacks for travelers.
Europa Press concluded that the positioning of the Christmas period as a period of maximum demand responds to social and economic factors, where tourism, work travel and school holiday travel coincide and winter operations are concentrated in just two weeks. This confluence explains why year-end airport planning is crucial for the sustainability and development of the entire aviation sector in Spain.
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