Overview
- Aena published September and January–September 2026 figures this Tuesday showing national growth with 31,671,269 passengers in September and a positive year‑to‑date aggregate for the network.
- Galicia’s three airports fell about 13.4% year‑on‑year, a drop of roughly 575,000 passengers driven mainly by Santiago‑Rosalía de Castro’s spring runway closure that removed nearly five weeks of operations.
- Several local airports posted gains: A Coruña’s Alvedro surpassed 1,079,353 passengers through September, Vigo’s Peinador rose in September to 94,188 and topped 400,000 over the summer period, Granada reached 885,255 passengers aided by strong domestic demand, Barcelona‑El Prat recorded 45.5 million year‑to‑date, and Córdoba logged 40,273 passengers, a 134.1% increase.
- The uneven picture reflects specific operational shocks and airline programming choices: Lavacolla’s roughly 35‑day closure skewed year‑on‑year comparisons, some seasonal international links were paused and later restored in Granada, and Aena noted a decline in air cargo volumes that contrasts with passenger gains.
- By contrast Argentina’s ANAC reported a record September with 4,186,500 passengers and growing international connectivity from provincial airports under liberalised route policies, showing how regulatory and commercial strategies can alter national network outcomes.