According to the Asociación de Líneas Aéreas (ALA), Spain's leading air travel sector association, this summer is expected to break records in terms of flights to and from Spanish destinations. The ALA has predicted that there will be 219 million seats available for the peak season, which is 3% more than the 213 million occupied during the same period in 2019, a record year. The ALA represents 85% of air traffic in Spain, including the 10 airlines with the most traffic and comprises 60 airlines, national and international, of all business types.
However, the ALA has warned that some European airports could collapse under the pressure of the anticipated tourism boom, as was the case last summer. Specifically, the ALA has requested government assistance to ensure that strikes in France, which mainly affect air traffic control, do not cause significant problems in Spain. A Eurocontrol report has estimated that Spain will be the country most affected by these strikes, with more than 400 delayed flights and 63% more cancellations than usual.
Already, Amsterdam's Schiphol airport has warned that it will need to reduce the number of flights this summer due to a lack of operational capacity, a similar situation to that in the United Kingdom last year. ALA president Javier Gándara has expressed concerns that the situation could have indirect repercussions, despite Spain being a model of good management after the pandemic.
Seat scheduling for this summer in Spain shows Andalucía, the Canary Islands, and the Balearic Islands leading the growth, while Madrid and Barcelona remain below pre-pandemic levels. ALA data suggests that Andalucía will experience the most significant growth in flights, with an 8.2% increase compared to 2019, with 25.6 million seats scheduled for the region.