Domestic air travel in Spain is picking up as rail disruptions and airline changes reshape how people get around the country. The sharpest increases are on routes where the AVE high-speed train was once the basic option: flights between Madrid and both Malaga and Seville have seen double-digit growth. Ryanair, meanwhile, has pulled back from many regional airports, leaving gaps that only a few airlines have stepped in to fill.
Aena data shows that 33.5 million people flew on domestic routes in the first half of the year, up 1.5% from the same period last year. International travel is growing even faster, but the domestic market’s return to growth stands out. A series of AVE service disruptions, including the aftermath of the Adamuz accident in Córdoba, pushed many travelers to seek alternatives.
In August 2026, Spain’s airports handled 34.89 million passengers, a 4.7% year-on-year increase, information from official Aena figures. Aena manages 46 airports and 2 heliports in Spain, along with airports in London and Brazil. Its published statistics so cover a broad international network, not just domestic Spanish operations.
Madrid-Barajas airport is at the center of this rebound. Flights to Malaga are up 23%, to Seville 18% and to Valencia 12%. The Madrid-Barcelona route, long the country’s basic business corridor, lost 13% of its air passengers in 2025. This year, it has regained 4.4% of that traffic. Vueling plans to return to the route in October, joining Iberia and Air Europa.
Vueling now leads Spain’s domestic market, adding 752,000 passengers, a 7% increase, and holding about a third of all domestic traffic. Iberia remains second, though it continues to deal with engine problems. Volotea and Binter are also growing quickly: Volotea is up 27% and Binter 11%. Binter is focusing on flights between the Canary Islands and major cities on the mainland.
Ryanair’s partial exit has had a clear effect. Between January and August, the airline lost 1.16 million domestic passengers, a drop of 22% compared with last year. Ryanair is now focusing on bigger airports and international routes. Many of the regional flights it dropped have not been replaced, leaving travelers outside the basic hubs with fewer options.
Several factors are driving renewed interest in flying within Spain. Alongside AVE’s problems, airlines have added flights and improved connections. Air travel is often more reliable, while the Canary and Balearic Islands continue to draw tourists. On many routes, flying saves impressive time compared with the train, especially where rail is a weak competitor.
International travel now accounts for over 82% of Spain’s total airport traffic, but the domestic market is holding steady. When rail service falters, airlines move quickly to fill the gap, though not every carrier can capitalize. Vueling’s rapid growth and the targeted expansion by Binter and Volotea point to a sector still in flux.
