Tourexpi
Air connectivity to Spain continues to expand ahead of
the autumn season. Nearly 13.1 million seats are scheduled on international
flights to the country in September 2026, according to the latest air capacity
figures released by Turespaña.
The total represents a 7.4% increase compared with
September 2025, when airlines offered around 12.2 million seats. Capacity is
growing in most of Spain’s major source markets, although the pace of expansion
varies considerably between countries.
Italy leads growth among major markets
The United Kingdom remains on a positive trajectory,
with scheduled capacity increasing by 8.7% year on year. Italy records the
strongest growth among Spain’s major source markets, with the number of
available seats rising by 13.2%.
Growth from Germany is more moderate at 3.4%, while
France remains almost unchanged from last year, with capacity increasing by
just 0.4%.
The figures indicate that airlines continue to expand
their Spanish programmes beyond the peak summer months, with September
retaining substantial international capacity.
Poland and Turkey continue rapid expansion
Poland once again stands out among the fastest-growing
markets. Scheduled capacity for September is expected to increase by more than
33% compared with the same month last year.
Turkey is also recording significant expansion, with
the number of seats scheduled on flights to Spain rising by 19.3% year on year.
The United States presents a different picture. After
previous increases in transatlantic capacity, growth has slowed substantially,
with September seat numbers expected to rise by only 0.3% compared with
September 2025.
Mexico grows while Colombia slips slightly
Among Spain’s Latin American source markets, Mexico
and Colombia account for the largest volumes of scheduled capacity.
Mexico continues to expand strongly, with 11.6% more
seats planned than a year earlier. Colombia, by contrast, records a slight
contraction. Scheduled capacity is 0.9% below the level registered in September
2025.
Overall, the September figures point to continued
growth in Spain’s international air connectivity, driven not only by its
traditional European markets but increasingly by rapidly expanding connections
with countries such as Poland and Turkey.
Image Credit: © AI generated illustration
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