# Spain's airport expansion and traffic growth

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/spains-airport-expansion-and-traffic-growth
> Updated: 2026-07-29T09:32:22.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

In late July 2026 Madrid’s aviation sector announced two complementary developments. Air Europa unveiled a new nonstop service to Barranquilla, Colombia, set to start on 18 December 2026, using three weekly Boeing 787‑8 flights. The launch was presented as a boost for tourism, business and investment, while promoters of the Air City Madrid Sur project pressed for converting the nearby Casarrubios aerodrome into a secondary commercial airport to alleviate congestion at Barajas. The plan, originally aimed at ten million passengers per year, was scaled back to a maximum of one million, with potential involvement from low‑cost carrier Ryanair.

A few days later data from OAG showed that Madrid‑Barajas continued to climb European airport rankings, offering 3.66 million seats in July 2026 – an 8 % year‑on‑year increase that placed it sixth on the continent and entered the global top ten for international capacity. Barcelona‑El Prat also posted growth, ranking seventh in Europe. The statistics highlighted Madrid’s expanding role in the Mediterranean air‑traffic network, reinforcing the rationale behind the new flight and the proposed secondary airport to support rising demand.

## Claims

- In July 2026 Madrid‑Barajas offered 3.66 million seats, an 8 % increase year‑on‑year, ranking sixth among European airports. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- In July 2026 Barcelona‑El Prat offered 3.34 million seats, a 6 % increase year‑on‑year, ranking seventh among European airports. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Istanbul Airport led the European ranking with 4.69 million seats, a 1 % decrease from July 2025. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Madrid‑Barajas entered the global top ten for international capacity for the first time, ranking tenth worldwide with 2.76 million seats and a 7 % increase. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Madrid‑Barajas is 163,000 seats behind Amsterdam‑Schiphol (fifth) and has about 320,000 more seats than Barcelona‑El Prat. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Madrid‑Barajas' 8 % growth was the second‑largest among the top ten European airports, surpassed only by Istanbul's 9 % increase. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Rome‑Fiumicino ranked eighth with 3.14 million seats, a 5 % increase. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen ranked ninth with 2.82 million seats. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-29: Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat rank among Europe's busiest airports

Madrid‑Barajas (3.66 M seats, +8 %) and Barcelona‑El Prat (3.34 M seats, +6 %) rank sixth and seventh in Europe’s July 2026 airport ranking, with Madrid entering the global top ten for capacity.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madrid-barajas-and-barcelona-el-prat-rank-among-europes-busiest-airports

### 2026-07-24: Madrid boosts aviation with direct Barranquilla flight and proposal for second airport

Air Europa will start a direct Madrid‑Barranquilla flight in Dec 2026, while promoters push a plan to turn Casarrubios into a second Madrid airport to ease Barajas congestion.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madrid-boosts-aviation-with-direct-barranquilla-flight-and-proposal-for-second-airport

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Cite as: Spain's airport expansion and traffic growth. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/spains-airport-expansion-and-traffic-growth