Compiled with the help of artificial intelligence, based on Spanish-language information. Source below the article.
Canary Islands see slight dip in international arrivals
International air passenger arrivals to the Canary Islands reached 1.12 million in September, a fall of 1.3% compared with the same period the previous year. According to data released this Monday by Turespaña, of that total 721,661 people flew with low-cost carriers (up 0.7%) and the remaining 397,936 travelled with traditional airlines (down 4.6%).
Nine-month total down 0.6% on 2025
For the accumulated total over the first nine months of 2026, the archipelago has recorded 11.57 million foreign travellers, a decrease of 0.6% on the equivalent figure for 2025. Of that number, 7.31 million used low-cost companies (up 2.1%) and 4.26 million used traditional airlines (down 4.8%).
Spain as a whole bucks the trend with 5.1% growth
Across Spain as a whole, international air passengers reached 11.5 million in September, up 5.1% year-on-year. The European market consolidated its position as the country’s main source of travellers, accounting for 85.4% of global traffic with a year-on-year rise of 5.2%, while arrivals from the Americas increased by 3.2% to represent 6.4% of the total flow. Travellers from Asia, meanwhile, rose by 2%.
With these figures, the accumulated total for the first nine months of the year stands at 90.9 million international passengers, a progression of 5.2% on 2025 and the addition of around 4.5 million extra visitors.
Growth from the main source markets
In September, passenger flows from the main markets of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France all grew, while for another month Poland stood out with a significant year-on-year rise. The volume of arrivals from the United States, on the other hand, slowed compared with previous months. In terms of market diversification (other countries), increases stood out in international passengers from China, Japan and Canada. Among the main Latin American countries, all except Colombia posted positive figures, with Mexico particularly notable.
UK remains the leading market
Among the traditional markets, around 2.6 million international passengers arrived from the United Kingdom, accounting for 22.3% of the total flow of arrivals, with a year-on-year increase of 5.2%. The Balearic Islands were their main destination with a 25.3% share of the total and growth of 1.7%, followed by the Canary Islands, the Valencian Community, Andalusia and Catalonia. Every region except Galicia and the Principality of Asturias notably increased its reception of arrivals in September, with the Community of Madrid and the Basque Country standing out.
German arrivals slip in the Canary Islands
From Germany, 1.5 million passengers flew in September (13.4% of the total), with a slight year-on-year rise of 0.9% that largely benefited the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and the Valencian Community. The Canary Islands, by contrast, received around 14,000 fewer passengers. The Balearic Islands were the leading destination region with a share of 45.8%.
A total of 1.1 million international passengers came from Italy, representing 9.6% of the flow received in September, with year-on-year growth of 8.1%. Andalusia, the Valencian Community, the Basque Country and Madrid were the regions that saw notable increases. The main recipients were Catalonia, with a share of arrivals of 27.9% and a moderate decline (-1.7%), and the Community of Madrid.
French market edges up as Canary Islands jump 20%
France, for its part, emitted 6.6% of the total number of passengers, showing a slight year-on-year increase of 0.3%. Catalonia experienced a double-digit decline, and the Valencian Community and the Principality of Asturias also fell to a lesser extent. The Canary Islands, by contrast, recorded a rise of 20%. The Community of Madrid, with a 24.2% share of arrivals, was the main destination for this market.
Passengers arriving from the Netherlands represented 4.5% of the total, while recording a decrease of 0.4% in September, largely due to declines in the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and the Basque Country. The main recipients were the Valencian Community and Catalonia, which together accounted for 40% of arrivals.
Six leading regions take 96.9% of arrivals
In September, the six main autonomous communities captured 96.9% of all arrivals, with increases in all of them except the Canary Islands. The Valencian Community, with 10.3%, and Andalusia, with 10.2%, recorded the most notable rises, while the Balearic Islands grew most moderately, at 2.6%.
Madrid-Barajas tops airport ranking
As for airports, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas headed the list in the ninth month, receiving 2.4 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of 5.6%. Barcelona airport came second with 2.1 million passengers, 4.1% more. Year-on-year, the airport that grew the most was Seville, with a rise of 17.3%.
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