Spain, Brazil and UK Airports See Record-Breaking Passenger Growth in February 2025 as Aena Group Expands Global Air Traffic

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Spain, Brazil, and UK airports saw record-breaking growth in February 2025 as Aena Group handled 24.5M passengers, boosting global air traffic expansion.

The Aena Group, which operates 46 airports and two heliports in Spain, London Luton Airport, and 17 airports in Brazil, recorded 24,537,134 passengers in February 2025, marking a 4.4% increase compared to February 2024. The group also handled 223,083 aircraft movements (+4.7%) and transported 111,790 tonnes of freight (+4.7%), highlighting significant growth in air travel demand.

Cumulative Passenger and Flight Data for Early 2025

By the end of February 2025, 49,536,918 passengers had traveled through Aena’s global network, reflecting a 5.3% rise from 2024. Additionally, the airports recorded 445,779 aircraft movements, a 4.2% increase compared to last year.

Aena’s Spanish Airports: Passenger and Traffic Records in February 2025

The 46 airports in Spain under Aena’s management registered 19,993,427 passengers, reflecting a 4% increase compared to February 2024. Aircraft movements also saw a 6.9% surge, reaching 178,767 operations.

Top Spanish Airports by Passenger Volume

• Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport – 4,820,733 passengers (+2.3%)
• Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport – 3,754,942 passengers (+2.8%)
• Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport – 1,522,258 passengers (+7%)
• Gran Canaria Airport – 1,332,678 passengers (+0.7%)
• Tenerife Sur Airport – 1,244,951 passengers (+2.2%)
• Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport – 1,166,789 passengers (+16.4%)
• Palma de Mallorca Airport – 1,057,450 passengers (+2.1%)

Record-Breaking Passenger Numbers in February

February 2025 marked the highest passenger count ever recorded in February across Aena’s network, with 18 airports achieving all-time highs:
Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga-Costa del Sol, Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Gran Canaria, Tenerife Sur, Valencia, Sevilla, César Manrique-Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Menorca, Bilbao, Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna, Ibiza, Melilla, Asturias, and Ceuta Heliport.

Busiest Airports by Flight Movements in February 2025

• Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport – 31,493 movements (+1.8%)
• Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport – 24,417 movements (+3.5%)
• Gran Canaria Airport – 11,544 movements (-0.5%)
• Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport – 10,931 movements (+8%)
• Palma de Mallorca Airport – 9,212 movements (+1.7%)
• Tenerife Sur Airport – 8,144 movements (+4.7%)
• Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport – 7,575 movements (+18.9%)

Record Aircraft Movements in February 2025

Aena recorded the highest-ever aircraft operations for February, with 11 airports setting new benchmarks, including Málaga-Costa del Sol, Tenerife Sur, Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna, César Manrique-Lanzarote, Sevilla, Fuerteventura, Son Bonet, La Gomera, Logroño, and El Hierro.

Cumulative Passenger and Flight Figures for Spain in 2025

By February’s end, 39,794,852 passengers had traveled through Aena’s Spanish airports, a 5% increase from 2024. Aircraft movements reached 353,255, up 6% year-on-year.

Aena’s Brazilian Airports: Passenger Growth Despite Flight Declin

Aena’s 17 airports in Brazil recorded 3,371,246 passengers in February 2025, reflecting a 6.7% increase over the same month in 2024. However, aircraft movements declined by 4.3% to 35,018 operations.

ANB Airport Group Performance

• Six ANB Airports handled 1,249,893 passengers (+3.6%)
• Recife Airport recorded 752,616 passengers (+4.9%)
• Freight at Recife Airport surged by 22.9%, reaching 4,571 tonnes
• Total flights at Recife Airport: 6,754 movements (-7.5%)

BOAB Airport Group Performance

• Eleven BOAB airports recorded 2,121,353 passengers (+8.6%)
• Congonhas Airport led with 1,805,633 passengers (+8.1%)
• Total flights at São Paulo Airport: 17,108 movements (-5.9%)

Cumulative Figures for Aena’s Brazilian Network

Between January and February 2025, 7,441,764 passengers traveled through Aena’s Brazilian airports, marking a 5.8% increase, despite aircraft movements declining by 3.8% to 74,049 flights.

London Luton Airport: Steady Growth in Passenger Numbers

London Luton Airport, part of Aena’s international portfolio, saw 1,172,461 passengers in February 2025, reflecting a 4.2% increase compared to the same month last year. Aircraft movements totaled 9,298, a 0.8% rise.

Cumulative Traffic at London Luton (January-February 2025)

By the end of February, 2,300,302 passengers had passed through London Luton Airport, reflecting a 7.8% increase. The airport handled 18,475 aircraft movements, up 3.4% year-on-year.

Aena’s 2025 Outlook: Expansion and Sustainable Growth

With record-breaking passenger numbers and growing aircraft movements, Aena Group continues to strengthen its global airport network. The steady growth in Spain, Brazil, and the UK demonstrates increasing travel demand and operational efficiency. As the aviation industry rebounds, Aena remains committed to expanding its capacity and improving connectivity across its key markets.