# 2026 regional airport passenger traffic spikes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/2026-airport-passenger-traffic-spikes > Updated: 2026-08-20T16:49:18.000Z. Sources: 79. Developments: 11. Mid‑2026 data confirm that passenger traffic kept rising across Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean. Colombia’s airports handled 29 million travelers (up 5.5% YoY), with domestic traffic at 16.4 million and international at 4.8% growth. Dominican carrier Arajet surpassed one million passengers in the first half of the year, accounting for 8.4% of all inbound and outbound traffic in the Dominican Republic. Arajet also tripled its connectivity between Argentina and the Dominican Republic, moving 141,470 point‑to‑point passengers in H1 2026. In Spain, the Aena network moved 156.24 million passengers in H1 2026 (3.7% increase). Regional performance varies: Andalusia exceeded 20 million passengers (+8%), Malaga‑Costa del Sol reached 13.2 million (+6.7%), and Sevilla saw 5.27 million (+9.8%). Reus Airport is experiencing sustained year-round growth, with 811,858 passengers in the first seven months of 2026, a 9.1% increase that is outpacing the broader Aena network. In July, Reus recorded 235,986 passengers, marking its second consecutive month exceeding 200,000 travelers. Driven by booming tourism, Aena reported a record net profit exceeding one billion euros in the first half of 2026. The company’s share price has increased approximately 12 percent since the start of the year. To support long-term growth, Aena is undertaking multi-billion euro investments in Spain and Brazil. Spanish aviation reached new milestones in July and August. On 1 August 2026, Eurocontrol recorded the highest weekly air‑traffic volume among 41 European states, with 6,697 take‑offs and landings at Spanish airports. ENAIRE logged 8,542 flights that day, surpassing a record set two weeks prior. While Aena's July traffic reached 34.4 million travelers (+5% YoY), the surge has caused punctuality issues at Palma, Barajas, and El Prat. Security measures remain active as authorities conduct border controls on travelers from Italy following Italy's suspension of Schengen space access. ## Claims - Natal International Airport handled 1,387,440 passengers between January and June 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources) - It is the highest first‑semester passenger count for any airport in Rio Grande do Norte since 2002. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Domestic passenger traffic was 1,286,949, a 15% increase year‑on‑year. (corroborated by 2 sources) - International passenger traffic was 100,491, a 92% increase year‑on‑year. (corroborated by 2 sources) - JetSMART began daily flights to Buenos Aires from Natal Airport in December 2025. (corroborated by 2 sources) - GOL launched a seasonal route to Montevideo in March 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The current terminal of Natal Airport opened in 2014. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Colombia’s Aeronautica Civil recorded 29 million passengers moved from January to June 2026, a 5.5 % increase over the same period in 2025. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Domestic passenger traffic in Colombia reached 16.4 million, up 6.1 % year‑on‑year. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Cargo and mail volume in Colombia reached 505,775 tonnes, a 5.6 % increase over the previous year. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Arajet transported 922,593 domestic passengers between January and June 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Arajet’s total passengers (including connections) exceeded one million in the first half of 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-20: Aena reports record profits amid rising passenger numbers Aena reports record growth and over one billion euros in net profit for the first half of 2026, driven by rising passenger numbers and tourism across its Spanish airport network. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aena-reports-record-profits-amid-rising-passenger-numbers ### 2026-08-15: Reus Airport reports significant year-round passenger growth Reus Airport reports a 9.1% increase in passengers during the first seven months of 2026, outperforming the average growth rate of the Aena network in Spain. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/reus-airport-reports-significant-year-round-passenger-growth ### 2026-08-12: Spanish airports hit record passenger numbers in July Spanish airports hit record passenger numbers in July, with Aena reporting a 5% increase. While major hubs grow, regional trends vary, and border controls for travelers from Italy remain in effect. 34 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aena-airports-hit-record-passenger-numbers-in-july ### 2026-08-06: Spain's airports set record traffic on 1 August 2026 Eurocontrol reported a record 6,697 movements at Spanish airports on 1 August 2026, with ENAIRE handling 8,542 flights, driven by a tourism surge that strained punctuality at Palma, Barajas and El Prat. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spains-airports-set-record-traffic-on-1-august-2026 ### 2026-07-31: Argentina sees record growth in capital markets and airline connectivity in 2026 Argentina's 2026 saw Arajet triple Argentina‑Dominican flights, moving over a million passengers, while its capital markets hit record growth with half the workforce holding investment accounts and record daily 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-sees-record-growth-in-capital-markets-and-airline-connectivity-in-2026 ### 2026-07-29: Natal Airport Sets Record Passenger Volume for First Half of 2026 Natal Airport logged 1.39 million passengers Jan‑Jun 2026, 18% above 2025, driven by new international routes to Buenos Aires and Montevideo. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/natal-airport-sets-record-passenger-volume-for-first-half-of-2026 ### 2026-07-28: Arajet hits million passengers as Colombia records 29 million travelers in first half of 2026 Arajet surpasses one million passengers in six months; Colombia logs 29 million travelers and cargo growth; Satena moves 746 k passengers; Mexico’s AIFA sees record June international traffic. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aviation-growth-colombias-29-million-passengers-in-h1-2026-and-airbus-forecast-for-doubling-traffic- ### 2026-07-18: Spain's regional airports break passenger records in H1 2026 Spain's airports see record passenger traffic in H1 2026, with Andalusia topping 20 million travelers and Asturias posting its highest monthly figures, boosted by international demand and new Wizz Air routes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spains-regional-airports-break-passenger-records-in-h1-2026 ### 2026-07-14: Latin America and Spain record strong air passenger growth in 2026 Latin America saw a 2.7% rise in May passenger traffic, while Spain’s airports handled 156 million travelers in H1 2026, up 3.7%; Argentina hit a record 24.5 million, and several Spanish airports posted double‑ 19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spains-airports-record-strong-june-passenger-growth ### 2026-07-07: Guadalajara Airport records surge in June travelers and launches new ride‑hailing platform hub Guadalajara Airport logged a record 1.565 million June passengers, up 85 k from 2025, while its new ride‑hailing platform hub processed 45 789 services in its first month. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guadalajara-airport-records-surge-in-june-travelers-and-launches-new-ridehailing-platform-hub ### 2026-07-03: Badajoz Airport records highest passenger traffic in nearly two decades Badajoz Airport logged a 22.5% passenger increase to 114,353 between June 2025‑May 2026, its best May ever, with operations up 66%; handling is by South Europe Ground Services. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/badajoz-airport-records-highest-passenger-traffic-in-nearly-two-decades --- Cite as: 2026 regional airport passenger traffic spikes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/2026-airport-passenger-traffic-spikes