If you’re flying in Spain on Christmas Day, you might be in luck. While airports are packed in the days before and after, 25 December remains the calmest day of the festive travel period, even as overall flight numbers continue to climb.
According to figures from airport operator Aena, 3,515 flights are scheduled across Spain on Christmas Day. That might sound like a lot, but compared with the rest of the holiday season, it’s the lowest daily total. Interestingly, it’s still 8.7 per cent more than last Christmas, showing just how much air travel has bounced back.
In other words, Spain’s airports are busier than ever this winter – just not on Christmas Day itself.
For many travellers, the reason is simple. Christmas Day is still seen as a time to stay put. Families tend to travel before the big day or wait until after, especially once celebrations are over and the school holidays stretch on.
That pattern shows clearly in the wider numbers. Between 19 December and 7 January, Spanish airports expect to handle just under 102,000 flights, nearly eight per cent more than last year. It’s a strong increase, but one that comes with clear peaks and troughs.
New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Three Kings’ Day are all set to be far busier than Christmas itself. On 31 December, airports will see around 4,420 flights, while New Year’s Day climbs to almost 4,900. Three Kings’ Day isn’t far behind, confirming that many people now choose to travel after Christmas rather than during it.
Despite the quieter day overall, Spain’s biggest airports still dominate the skies. Madrid-Barajas remains firmly at the top, with 878 flights scheduled on Christmas Day, up noticeably on last year. Barcelona-El Prat follows with 646 movements, reflecting its role as both a domestic and international hub.
The islands also continue to draw steady winter traffic. Gran Canaria Airport will handle 268 flights, underlining its popularity at this time of year. Meanwhile, Málaga and Palma de Mallorca round out the top five with 216 and 197 flights respectively, solid figures even on what is considered a slow day.
For passengers, this all translates into a familiar festive reality. Christmas Day tends to be less stressful at airports, with shorter queues, fewer delays and a generally calmer atmosphere — especially compared with the hectic days that follow.
But the quiet won’t last long. With traffic picking up sharply towards the end of December and into early January, travellers heading out later in the holidays should expect busier terminals and fuller flights, particularly at major hubs.
So while Spain’s airports are heading for one of their busiest festive seasons yet, Christmas Day itself still offers a brief moment of calm – a pause before the holiday travel rush properly kicks back in.
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