The Canary Islands received 5.5 million international air passengers in the first four months of 2024, marking an 11.9% increase compared to the same period in 2023, as reported by Turespaña. Of these, 3.4 million passengers arrived via low-cost airlines, a notable 17.8% rise, while 2.05 million traveled on traditional airlines, a modest increase of 3.2%.
Continued Growth in April
In April alone, the trend of increasing international air passengers persisted, with a 2.3% year-on-year growth, bringing the total to 1.18 million for the month. Across Spain, international air passenger numbers surged by 13.6% in the first four months, totaling 28.7 million, with significant boosts from distant markets like Canada and China, both exceeding 90% growth in April.
Breakdown of Air Passenger Origins and Destinations
- United Kingdom: With 1.9 million passengers in April, the UK accounted for 21.4% of arrivals to Spain, up 5.3% year-on-year. The Canary Islands received 26.7% of these passengers.
- Germany: German arrivals reached 1.2 million (13.8% of the total), with a 4% increase from the previous year. The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands were the main destinations.
- Italy: Italy contributed 9.9% of the passenger flow (878,451 passengers), a 14.4% rise, benefiting Catalonia and Madrid the most.
- France: French arrivals increased by 6.8% to 744,553 passengers, mainly favoring Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.
- Netherlands: Representing 5.1% of total passengers, the Netherlands saw a 7.1% increase, with the Valencian Community, Catalonia, and Andalusia being the primary destinations.
Regional and Airport Performance
The top six receiving communities (Valencia, Andalusia, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Madrid) captured 96.7% of all arrivals, with Catalonia experiencing the highest year-on-year growth at 14.7%. Madrid led in total arrivals with over 2 million.
At the airport level, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas received the highest number of arrivals (2.01 million), followed by Barcelona (1.7 million) and Palma (1 million). Seville Airport saw the largest year-on-year increase at 31.9%.
Industry Insights
Spain’s Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, praised the sustained growth in air passengers, noting the positive impact on tourism expenditure and employment. Hereu emphasized the strong performance of long-haul markets and highlighted Spain’s position as a premier global tourist destination.
In summary, the Canary Islands and Spain overall have witnessed significant growth in international air passenger arrivals in early 2024, driven by both traditional and low-cost airlines and bolstered by increasing interest from long-haul markets.
