The Prat airport, on its way to exceeding its maximum capacity for the third consecutive year

BarcelonaEl Prat Airport is on track to exceed its maximum capacity for the third consecutive year. After 2025, when the airport once again surpassed its theoretical passenger flow – its limit is 55 million passengers per year – this year records are being broken all records. According to the latest data published this Wednesday by Aena, the Barcelona airport has registered 34.2 million passengers during the first seven months of the year, 4.6% more than in the same period last year. In July alone, almost 5.9 million travelers were received, 6% more compared to July 2025.

A large part of this increase is due to a greater influx of visitors from abroad. The perception of Catalonia as a safe tourist destination in the face of instability in the Middle East has offset the increased cost of kerosene and airline tickets, effects caused precisely by the war in Iran. Thus, the number of international passengers at the Catalan airport between January and July has exceeded 25.8 million, a figure representing a year-on-year increase of 5.7%. For its part, the number of national tourists who have passed through the airport has increased by 1.6%, slightly above 8.3 million.

While the procedures to expand the airport continue their course –the expansion works are expected to begin in 2029–, from the Spanish government they celebrate the data of a network at the limit of its capacity. Precisely at the beginning of July, the Minister of Industry and Tourism of the executive, Jordi Hereu, saw it as "probable" that Spain will end up receiving more than 100 million foreign tourists, a milestone that is gladly embraced. "We will celebrate it at the end of the year," he said at a press conference from Madrid.

Reus grows and Girona falls

Girona-Costa Brava Airport reached a figure of 1.15 million passengers by July, 6% less compared to the first seven months of last year. Of these, 320,926 were concentrated solely in July, representing a 2% decrease year-on-year. However, the number of operations at the airport increased by 6.5%, with a total of 17,018 take-offs and landings.

For its part, Reus Airport added 811,858 passengers in the year-to-date total, 9.1% more compared to the period between January and July 2025. In July alone, the airport nearly reached 236,000 travelers, 6.1% more. Regarding the number of operations, they increased by 9.1% in the year-to-date total, reaching 15,024.

In turn, Sabadell Airport – focused on general aviation and pilot school – carried out 42,556 operations since the beginning of the year, 13.8% more. The passenger figure, in this regard, was negligible, with a total of 3,721 by July.

Rise across the network

Aena's network of airports across Spain has surpassed 190 million travelers in the first seven months of the year, a 4% increase compared to 2025. At the same time, over 1.6 million aircraft movements have been operated, a 4.4% increase year-on-year.

In July alone, coinciding with the arrival of summer, the State's aerodromes registered 34.4 million passengers, a figure that represents a 5% increase.