• Air traffic growth in Spain in August was 2.4 percentage points above the European average compared with 2025, and 12.5 percentage points above the European average compared with 2019, the pre-pandemic reference year
• In August, the 2025 daily flight record (8,103 movements) was surpassed on 26 occasions, and 1 August was the busiest day in the history of Spanish air traffic
• International flights totalled 154,487, up 5.7% on 2025
• In the first eight months, ENAIRE has already handled more than 1.7 million flights, 4.3% more than in 2025
ENAIRE, the state air navigation service provider in Spain, handled more than 255,000 flights in August (255,084), 5% more than in the same month of 2025, itself a record year. Throughout August, the 2025 daily flight record (8,103 movements) was surpassed on as many as 26 occasions, with 1 August the busiest day for air traffic in Spain’s history (8,548).
International flights (154,487) increased by 5.7% in August compared to the same month last year; domestic flights (44,074), by 4.2%; and overflights (56,523), which do not land at or depart from a Spanish airport, by 3.6%.
By control centre, Palma handled 55,153 flights in August (6.3% more than in the same month of 2025); Madrid, 129,223 (+5.8%); Barcelona, 133,222 (+5.1%); Seville, 56,104 (+5.0%); and the Canary Islands, 37,104 (+3.5%).
These figures contrast sharply with air traffic trends in Europe. Air traffic growth in Spain in August was 2.4 percentage points above the European average (+2.6%) compared with 2025, and 12.5 percentage points above the European average compared with 2019, the pre-pandemic reference year (16.6% in Spain versus 4.1% in Europe).
Cumulative data
Cumulative air traffic from 1 January to 31 August 2026 totalled 1,725,905 flights, an increase of 4.3% on the same period in 2025.
From January to August, international flights (1,009,537) increased by 5.0%; overflights (395,355), by 4.1%; and domestic flights (321,013), by 2.4%.
So far this year, by control centre, Seville handled 401,884 flights (6.0% more than in the same period of 2025); Barcelona, 835,327 (+4.6%); Palma, 279,785 (+4.6%); Madrid, 930,271 (+4.3%); and the Canary Islands, 290,409 (+1.8%).
Cumulative traffic growth through August in Spain was 2.7 percentage points above the European average compared with 2025 (1.6%) and 17.5 percentage points above the European average compared with the same period in 2019 (18.4% for ENAIRE versus 0.9% for Europe).
Our people
The safe, efficient and sustainable management of airspace during a record month for traffic was made possible by ENAIRE’s people. The commitment and work of its air traffic controllers, engineers, technicians and administrative and management staff once again represent the organisation’s greatest asset.
This is reflected in ENAIRE’s achievements, including the highest rating in the key performance indicator for air safety at European scale for six consecutive years and the strong improvement in perceived quality scores among its customers and stakeholders.
About ENAIRE
ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.
As a company of the Ministry of Sustainable Transport and Mobility, it provides air traffic control services during the en route and approach phases of all flights to and from Spain and overflights. In addition, it manages communications, navigation and surveillance services from ENAIRE in the airspace and the entire AENA airport network in Spain and provides aerodrome air traffic control services in 21 airports, including the busiest.
ENAIRE is the fourth largest European air navigation service provider, and it is a member of international partnerships A6 Alliance, SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC, CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) and collaborates closely with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).
ENAIRE has achieved the highest rating for the key performance indicator regarding air safety at the European level for six consecutive years, securing the maximum possible score of 100%. It has also been awarded the EFQM 600 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.