Lorraine Williamson
Spain has recorded nearly 100 million international air passengers in the first eleven months of 2024, marking an 11.3% increase compared to the same period last year. With 98.3 million travellers arriving between January and November, the country is on track to achieve historic tourism numbers.
Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have played a pivotal role in this growth, accounting for over 6.5 million of the 10 million additional passengers.
November’s record-breaking arrivals
In November alone, Spain welcomed 6.8 million international passengers, a 10.3% rise compared to the same month in 2023. Of these, 58.3% chose LCCs, which saw a 12.1% growth. Traditional airlines experienced a more modest increase of 7.8%, carrying 41.7% of November’s arrivals.
EU and non-EU passenger growth
Travellers from the European Union (EU) made up 56.9% of November arrivals, reflecting an 8.7% increase. However, non-EU countries demonstrated even stronger growth at 12.4%, contributing 43.1% of total arrivals. Regions such as Latin America, Canada, China, and the Persian Gulf showed particularly notable increases.
Key international markets
United Kingdom
The UK remains Spain’s largest international passenger market, contributing 1.3 million passengers in November, a 7.6% year-on-year rise. The Canary Islands saw the largest benefit, with 40,000 additional UK arrivals. Andalucia and the Valencian Community also recorded increases, with an extra 16,500 British passengers.
LCCs dominated this market, carrying 82.4% of UK travellers and achieving a 9.3% growth. Traditional airlines grew by just 0.2%.
Germany
Germany, Spain’s second-largest market, delivered 0.9 million passengers in November, up 9.6% from the previous year. The Canary Islands remained a key destination, attracting 38.4% of German travellers—a 14.2% increase.
Traditional airlines carried 51.9% of German passengers, growing by 7.7%, while LCCs accounted for 48.1%, with an 11.7% increase.
Italy
Italian passengers made up 10.7% of November arrivals, with 725,732 travellers—15.2% more than in 2023. The Community of Madrid and Catalonia were top destinations, receiving 32.1% and 31.3% of Italian passengers, respectively. LCCs saw significant growth, carrying 79.5% of Italian travellers, an increase of 16.8%. Traditional airlines grew by 9.4%.
France
France accounted for 6.9% of international passengers in November, with a modest growth of 3.8%. The Community of Madrid and Catalonia received 61.6% of French travellers. The Canary Islands and Valencian Community also recorded gains, with over 4,000 additional French arrivals each.
LCCs led this market with 63.3% of passengers, showing 5.5% growth. Traditional airlines increased by just 1.0%.
Netherlands
The Netherlands saw a 4.7% growth in passenger numbers, with Catalonia, Andalucia, and the Valencian Community being the primary destinations. The Basque Country and the Community of Madrid posted notable year-on-year growth at 17.1% and 13.6%, respectively. LCCs carried 69.4% of Dutch travellers, growing by 2.9%, while traditional airlines recorded an 8.9% increase.
Top autonomous communities
Six regions received 97.5% of international arrivals in November. All recorded double-digit year-on-year growth except for Catalonia, which grew by 8%.
- Community of Madrid: The top destination, attracting 1.9 million passengers (28% of the total). It led in traditional airline arrivals, with a 51.3% share.
- Catalonia: A leader in LCC arrivals, capturing over 20% of the market.
- Canary Islands: A favourite winter destination, particularly for German and UK travellers.
- Andalucia: The fastest-growing region, with a 12.8% increase, boosted by markets like the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands.
- Valencian Community: Notable increases from French and Dutch markets.
- Balearic Islands: Continued steady growth across key markets.
A strong finish for 2024
With nearly 100 million passengers so far, Spain’s tourism sector continues to set new records. The combination of increased accessibility, growing low-cost options, and expanded international interest positions the country for a strong end to the year.