Air tourism surge lifts Spanish rents by up to €236 per year

A study commissioned by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) and carried out by the New Economics Foundation found a clear link between the rise in air‑tourism and higher housing costs in several European countries, especially Spain. Between 2019 and 2025, a 12.8% increase in the number of air‑tourists in Spain added €3,800 to the average purchase price of an apartment and pushed monthly rents up by as much as €236 (about 1.7%). The analysis projects an additional €217 rent increase by 2031 if the trend continues.

The impact varies by city and region, with tourist‑heavy areas such as the Balearic and Canary Islands feeling the strongest pressure. The report also notes that in countries where air‑tourism is falling – for example Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland – housing prices have shown modest declines. Spain’s airport expansions at Madrid‑Barajas and Barcelona‑El Prat, together with emissions that have already exceeded pre‑COVID levels, underline the broader economic and environmental dimensions of the surge.

The findings highlight growing concerns over housing affordability, especially in popular Mediterranean destinations, and suggest that policy measures targeting short‑term rentals and foreign home purchases may become increasingly urgent.