canary islands airports winter passenger record 2026

Canary Airports Set New Winter Passenger Record

Canary Airports Break Passenger Records in Peak Winter Season

The airports of the Canary Islands have closed the months of January and February—part of the peak winter tourist season which ends this month—with yet another passenger record. According to data from airport operator Aena, they handled approximately 9.1 million travellers, an increase of around 0.6% compared to the same period in 2025.

February Sees Strong International Growth

February alone saw about 4.5 million passengers, a 1.2% rise on the same month last year. The majority of these travellers flew on commercial flights, confirming the archipelago’s importance as a national and international tourist destination. In detail, around 1.5 million passengers travelled on domestic flights, a marginal 0.1% decrease from February 2025. Meanwhile, nearly 3 million opted for international flights, representing a significant 2.1% growth year-on-year. These figures highlight the islands’ enduring appeal to European tourists and other international visitors, solidifying the connectivity of the island airports.

Gran Canaria Leads Island-by-Island Traffic

Gran Canaria Airport led the traffic with some 1.35 million passengers. It was followed by Tenerife South (around 1.26 million), César Manrique-Lanzarote (approximately 709,000), Fuerteventura (almost 548,000), Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna (about 518,000), La Palma (close to 128,000), El Hierro (some 23,000), and La Gomera (just over 8,000). This distribution reflects the concentration of tourism on islands with greater infrastructure and higher visitor numbers, while the smaller airports ensure inter-island mobility and access to less crowded destinations.

A Robust Start to the Year for Aviation and Logistics

The figures for February and the first two months of the year coincide with the high season, when tourist influx peaks and airports operate at full capacity. In total, between January and February, roughly 9.1 million commercial passengers were transported. Of these, just over 3.1 million travelled on domestic flights (up 1.1%) and almost six million on international flights (up 2%). During this period, more than 79,000 aircraft movements were managed and about 5,300 tonnes of cargo were transported, underlining the airports’ importance not just for tourism, but also for the archipelago’s logistics and trade.

Stable Traffic After Years of Growth

Although this marks a historic record, the cumulative increase compared to 2025 is only 0.6%. This indicates that air traffic during the high season has stabilised following years of consistent growth. The trend confirms the capacity of the Canary Islands’ airports to absorb large volumes of passengers, guaranteeing both inter-island connectivity and the arrival of tourists during the months of highest demand.

Furthermore, the numbers point to a clear reality: the high season in the Canaries, which ends this month, has been solid and steady. This consolidates the Canary Islands’ airports as key infrastructure for the mobility of residents and visitors alike, and underscores the archipelago’s capacity to maintain a steady flow of passengers.

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