Traffic growth across Aena’s global airport network in January

Global airport operator, Aena, reports that traffic numbers continued to rise across its network in January, although at a slower rate in Spain than in the same month a year ago.

Aena handled 25.8 million passengers across its 46 airports and two heliports in Spain, the UK and Brazil last month – 3.3% more than in in January 2025.

This includes  20.3 million handled across its Spanish network, which marked a 2.6% upturn on the same month last year, although the growth rate was much lower compared to the 6.1% upturn recorded between January 2025 and January 2024.

This pattern is also seen in the number of aircraft operations, which totalled 173,431 in January— 0.6% fewer movements than in 2025, whereas between January 2025 and January 2024 they increased by 5.2%.

Not surprisingly, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat led the way, welcoming 5.3 million (+3.5%) and 3.8 million (+3%) passengers respectively during the month.

In terms of operations, the airport with the most movements in January was Madrid-Barajas, with a total of 34,658 (+2.5%), followed by Barcelona-El Prat, with 24,537 flights (-0.2%); Gran Canaria, with 12,349 (+1.5%); Málaga-Costa del Sol, with 10,830 (+3.9%); Palma de Mallorca, with 8,496 (-1.9%); Tenerife Sur, with 8,409 (-3.5%) and Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, with 7,521 landings and take-offs (+5.6%).

Aena’s Spanish airports enjoyed their best ever January for cargo volumes, with Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat once again leading the way followed by Zaragoza Airport, with 13,868 tonnes (+19.6%); and Vitoria, with 5,416 tonnes (-5.5%).

AENA’S OVERSEAS AIRPORTS

Passenger numbers across Aena’s 17 Brazilian gateways increased by 6.7% to 4.3 million in January, while cargo volumes soared 13.9% to 11,447 tonnes.

The standout airports for passenger traffic, according to Aena Brasil, were Recife (+7.1%) and Congonhas (+7.2%).

Meanwhile in the UK, London Luton Airport welcomed 1.17 million passengers in January (+4%), although both aircraft movements and cargo tonnage were down.