International airport traffic is gradually leaving the pandemic behind, but it still hasn't managed to completely shake it off. In this year of recovery, especially starting from the summer season, El Prat Airport has registered more than 41.6 million passengers, a figure that represents 21% less compared to the 2019 volume, when there were 52.6 million users.
Of the total traffic, 29.4 million were international flight travelers, numbers that are 24% below those of the year before the arrival of covid. On the other hand, national passenger traffic has responded better, with 12.13 million users, only 13% less.
Regarding operations, last year more than 283,000 aircraft movements were carried out, 18% less compared to the 2019 total. International flights have recovered with 197,480 landings and takeoffs, 20% less, while national flights, with 83,463 operations, 12.5% less.
This reactivation of travel has been accelerating at Barcelona Airport. In June and July, traffic was 20% lower than pre-pandemic figures, a percentage that gradually decreased, reaching almost 10% less in December, with 3.3 million passengers. As for operations, the Barcelona infrastructure registered 22,350 movements in the last month of the year, 11% less.
El Prat is not the airport that is registering the best performance compared to other Spanish destinations. According to Aena data, Barajas registered 50.6 million users ---the highest figure in the entire network---, 18% less compared to 2019. Malaga airport also obtained better results, with 7.1% less; Valencia (-5%), Gran Canaria (-6.4%), Palma de Mallorca (-3.9%), and Tenerife South (-3.1%). Airports such as Reus, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and Menorca have already recovered from the pandemic.
Overall, the airports in the Aena network closed 2022 with a total of 243.68 million passengers, 11.5% less compared to 2019. In December, the recovery almost equaled pre-pandemic figures, with only 2% less, with 17.89 million passengers.