Balearics have tourists and are benefitting from stricter restrictions before Easter
Despite German government appeals to avoid foreign travel, Spain's airports authority Aena reports that for the period between March 26th to April 5th, there will be 532 flights between German airports and Mallorca (inbound and outbound combined). Unlike the Canary Islands, whose incidence rates are too high, the Balearics have been removed from Germany’s travel blacklist.
Over the weekend, Eurowings operated 44 flights to Palma from nine German airports, which is almost four times as many as the previous weekend, when there were twelve. The airline has not given exact numbers of passengers who flew at the weekend but has told the German news agency DPA that there were "good numbers" of reservations.
TUI operated fifteen flights at the weekend with over 2,000 passengers. The tour operator is quoted by DPA as saying that reservations were not at 100 per cent and were of a similar level to the previous week.
Flights to Mallorca increased once the German government revised its travel advice on March 14th, the incidence rates of new coronavirus cases having indicated that Mallorca and the Balearics were no longer on the risk list for travel.
Latest figures from the Ministry of Health point to a seven day incidence rate in the Balearics of 28.71. On Saturday, data from the regional Ministry of Health indicated a, IA7 of 27.68 in Mallorca. Meanwhile, Robert Koch Institute figures on Sunday gave a seven day incidence of 129.70 in Germany.
All passengers travelling to Spain, including the Balearics, have to present a negative PCR test carried out within 72 hours of arrival, and as from tomorrow (Tuesday), passengers returning to Germany will need to present negative PCR test results prior to boarding their plane home.
The Balearic Islands have been under stricter restrictions than the Canary Islands for several weeks now, as they have effectively implemented Level 4 regulations when they have had Level 1 data with a 6pm closure of businesses. Just a couple of weeks ago the regional government looked to soften restrictions but business owners and residents rejected it as they preferred to wait until tourists were able to return as the summer season is their livelihood and they can’t afford to lose another one like last year.