Despite the increasing cost of air travel, British tourists continue to flock to Spain in large numbers, particularly during the busy summer months. July saw a significant rise in the number of British visitors. The 2.6 million British tourists accounted for 23.2% of the total arrivals to the country. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 4,6%.
As for the way British tourists are visiting Spain, they are overwhelmingly choosing low-cost airlines when flying to Spain. A staggering 80% of British visitors who arrived in Spain in July opted for budget carriers such as Ryanair, Vueling, or Iberia Express. This preference solidifies the UK’s position as the leading source of tourists using these airlines, accounting for 30.3% of all low-cost airline arrivals in the country.
Majority of international passengers chose budget airlines too
The appeal of low-cost carriers extends beyond the British market. According to the latest data from Spain’s Ministry of Tourism, 61.2% of all international passengers flying to Spain in July chose budget airlines, marking an 8.9% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Traditional airlines, while still popular, only carried 38.8% of passengers, showing a similar but slightly lower growth rate of 8.1%.
Demand for flights to Spain remains robust
Despite the rising cost of air travel post-pandemic, the demand for flights to Spain remains robust. Budget airlines have seen significant growth, even as their fares have increased this summer. An analysis by Mabrian, a travel industry data firm, highlights that while low-cost airlines offer cheaper tickets compared to traditional carriers, they have also led the way in price hikes during the peak travel season from June to September.
In the UK, for instance, low-cost airline fares have surged by 42% in 2024, compared to an 11% increase for traditional airlines. Germany has witnessed a similar trend, with budget airline prices rising by 12%, while traditional airline fares have actually decreased by 0.4%.
Germans show strong preference for traditional airlines
Interestingly, while British tourists dominate the low-cost segment, their German counterparts—who make up the second-largest group of visitors to Spain—still show a strong preference for traditional airlines. In July, 46.2% of German passengers flew with conventional carriers, while 53.8% opted for budget options. Meanwhile, French and Dutch tourists are increasingly following the British trend, with 73.9% and 71.1% respectively choosing low-cost airlines.
Noticeable rise in prices of budget carriers
Despite the popularity of these budget carriers, the rise in prices has been noticeable, driven by increasing operational costs and the high demand for flights to Spain during the summer. According to Carlos Cendra Cruz, marketing director at Mabrian, “The price increases we are seeing reflect both the growing operational costs of airlines and the increasing demand to and from Spain this summer season.”
More delays
However, the allure of budget travel comes with its own challenges. During the first half of 2024, nearly 14 million passengers out of the 60 million who flew from Spanish airports experienced delays. Of these, close to 900,000 passengers may be entitled to compensation under European regulations for delays exceeding three hours, cancellations, or missed connections due to previous flight delays.
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