El tráfico aéreo nacional vuelve a subir por el caos del AVE y pese a Ryanair

National air traffic in Spain is rising again due to the chaos of the AVE high-speed train, despite Ryanair's withdrawal. Aena reports a rise in domestic passenger numbers for the second half of 2025, with lines between Madrid and Sevilla, and Madrid and Málaga seeing the most growth. Vueling leads the market for domestic routes in Spain.

The surge in domestic air traffic comes after a decrease experienced in the previous year, despite the disruption caused by the AVE and Ryanair's conflict with the government over fees. Air travel recovered first after the pandemic, but now international travel is growing at a faster pace. One reason for the slower growth in domestic traffic was the accident at Adamuz in January 2025.

Aena believes limitations in the rail system are causing passengers to switch to air travel, which has led to an increase in their forecast for global activity growth from 1.6% to 3% in 2026. Domestic routes saw a 1.5% increase in passengers, compared to a near 4% increase in international routes, which account for 82.6% of all airport system users.

Madrid-Barajas airport saw a 23% increase in radial routes, while Málaga, Sevilla, and Valencia saw 18%, 12%, and 12% increases, respectively. The primary business route between Madrid and Barcelona lost 13% of business travelers in 2025 but gained 4.4% activity this year and was reconnected in October. This corridor is the fourth most popular in Spain with 1.23 million travelers up to August, behind Palma-Barcelona, Madrid-Barcelona, and Madrid to Gran Canaria.

Air travel growth is also attributed to the airlines' focus on connectivity, reliability, and the high tourist potential of the Canary and Balearic Islands, as well as the significant domestic market with time-saving routes. The partial withdrawal of Ryanair has left regional airports with 1.16 million passengers (22% of total), and Vueling has added 752,000 passengers (+7%) on domestic routes, becoming the leader with a third of domestic travelers, a key part of its strategic plan.

Iberia remains second but is affected by engine issues, while growth was most significant for Volotea (+27%) and Binter (+11%).