The eight airports across the Canary Islands are expected to operate 2,941 flights during this first weekend of 2025. This is an increase of 415 operations compared to the same period last year, which recorded 2,526 flights.
The data, provided by Aena, highlights the growing activity in the region’s airports during the festive season.
Nationally, AENA forecasts 10,852 flights to be operated across Spain over the same two days, a significant rise of 810 operations from the 10,042 flights recorded during the comparable weekend last year. The busiest airports in terms of flight operations are Madrid, Barcelona, and Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria Among Spain’s Top Three Airports
Gran Canaria Airport stands out as the third busiest airport in Spain this weekend, with 932 flights scheduled. This represents an increase of 63 flights compared to the previous year. Madrid leads the list with 2,169 operations, 302 more than in 2024, followed by Barcelona-El Prat with 1,762 flights, up by 260 from last year.
The Christmas period, defined as 20th December 2024 to 7th January 2025, has been particularly busy for the Canary Islands, with a total of 25,212 flights scheduled. This is a 20.42% increase compared to the 2023/24 holiday season, which recorded 20,936 flights.
The busiest day during this festive period was Saturday 21st December, with 1,681 flights. The second busiest day was yesterday, Saturday 4th January, with 1,629 scheduled flights.
Nationwide Air Traffic Surge
Across Spain, AENA anticipates 97,420 flights to operate throughout the Christmas period, reflecting a 17.7% year-on-year increase. The longer festive calendar for 2024/25, featuring two additional days, has contributed to this surge in flight activity.
The growth in flight operations highlights the rising demand for air travel during the holiday season, with the Canary Islands playing a significant role as a major hub for both domestic and international flights.
