routes connecting Spain and the UK carried 45.27 million passengers. Photo credit: Colinmthompson/Shutterstock
Flights between Spain and the United Kingdom have emerged as the busiest air segment at Spanish airports, overtaking domestic routes for the first time in years. The rise reflects strong demand from UK travellers, while internal flights within Spain appear to have plateaued.
Data from Aena for the first eleven months of 2025 show that routes connecting Spain and the UK carried 45.27 million passengers, up 4% from the previous year. Domestic flights recorded 45.19 million passengers, showing almost no growth. British tourists remain the largest source of inbound visitors, with over 18 million arrivals in 2024, and typically spend more per passenger due to the ability to reclaim part of the VAT.
Foreign carriers lead the corridor
Ryanair and easyJet dominate
Low-cost foreign airlines are the main operators on the Spain–UK corridor. Ryanair transported 13.79 million passengers from January to November 2025, operating over 100 routes between both countries and planning further expansions for summer 2026.
EasyJet followed closely with 10 million passengers across 129 routes connecting 17 Spanish airports with 14 in the UK. Tourism accounts for the majority of travel, although business trips are also significant in major hubs such as Madrid, Barcelona, London and Manchester. Most bookings are for week-long trips and often involve groups of two or more.
Package holidays remain popular
Jet2.com and TUI
UK tourists continue to favour package holidays when visiting Spain. Jet2.com and TUI carried 9.85 million and 3.96 million passengers respectively in the first eleven months of 2025. Jet2.com reports that nearly all passengers are British, and Spain remains its top destination despite competition from Greece, Portugal, Turkey and Egypt.
Later booking patterns, particularly for families, reflect economic uncertainty in the UK and abundant seat availability. Jet2.com plans to operate over 160 routes in 2025. Other carriers, including British Airways and Vueling, add capacity, with Vueling particularly active on Barcelona–London connections.
Challenges for domestic routes
High-speed rail and airline adjustments
Domestic flights face multiple pressures. The expansion of Spain’s high-speed rail network has shifted some passengers from air to rail. Airlines such as Ryanair have cut certain national routes, and technical issues affecting some aircraft, notably Iberia Express planes, have prompted airlines to prioritise international travel.
Smaller carriers including Binter, Volotea and Vueling are expanding their domestic presence. Binter, in particular, has seen rapid growth on inter-island and regional routes, capturing a larger share of the national market.
Summary
- UK routes have overtaken domestic flights, with 45.27 million passengers versus 45.19 million.
- British travellers remain the top inbound segment and spend more per passenger, partly due to VAT refunds.
- Ryanair and easyJet dominate the corridor, while Jet2.com and TUI highlight the continuing popularity of package holidays.
- Domestic flights are constrained by high-speed rail, route reductions and technical issues.
- Spain–UK is now the world’s largest air corridor in seat capacity, offering 55.05 million seats in 2024.
The growth of UK routes reflects Spain’s enduring appeal for British tourists and the strategic focus of airlines on international travel. Operators are adjusting schedules to meet peak demand while optimising profitability.
Passenger behaviour is changing, with more last-minute bookings and family travel, prompting airlines to adopt flexible planning strategies to accommodate fluctuations in demand.
Outlook
International focus remains
The Spain–UK corridor is expected to maintain its leading position in coming years. Airlines plan further expansions for summer 2026, reflecting strong tourism demand. While domestic routes remain important, international connections now dominate planning and investment at Spanish airports.
Other international markets showing growth include Poland, Ireland and Italy, while long-haul flights to the United States continue to expand. Between January and November 2025, 4.2 million passengers flew from Spain to the US, up 5% compared with the previous year.