Balearic airports continue unabated: half a million more passengers by August

PalmAlthough it seems every year that the Balearic Islands' airports have already reached their peak, reality proves otherwise: between January and August, the main gateways to the islands saw an increase of 531,000 passengers compared to 2024, which was a record year.

Palma Airport recorded nearly 24 million passengers between January and August, some 400,000 more than in 2023, making it the main gateway for tourists. In Ibiza, the cumulative total through the eighth month of the year exceeds 6.5 million passengers, with a slight but steady increase that reflects the island's attraction in the midst of high season. In Menorca, traffic has also grown and is now approaching 3.1 million users, a figure that, although more modest, marks a historic high for this time of year. The year-on-year balance confirms that the increase in travelers continues unabated in the islands and that tourist pressure is steadily increasing.

A record foreseeable by 2025

Data from the public company Aena confirms that the Balearic Islands' airports will once again break records this year. The island's airports closed 2024 with 46.5 million passengers, a record high. Palma Airport registered more than 33.3 million passengers, while Ibiza and Menorca reached 9 million and 4.2 million respectively. Compared to the 44 million in 2023, the growth was 5.6%. This steady increase reflects the expansion of mass tourism, but also increases the pressure on infrastructure, natural resources, and the daily lives of residents.

The Balearic Islands have experienced significant growth in air traffic over the past ten years. According to Aena data, between 2015 and 2024, the airports of Palma, Ibiza and Menorca will accumulate an increase in passengers of more than 13 million, a growth of approximately 40% compared to 2015.

Contribution by airport (2015-2025)

In a decade, the islands' three airports recorded very significant traffic increases. Son Sant Joan has grown from approximately 23.7 million passengers in 2015 to more than 33.3 million in 2024, an increase of nearly 41%. In Ibiza, the jump has been from 6.5 to 9.1 million users, a growth of between 40% and 45%. Finally, Menorca has experienced the largest relative increase: from 2.9 million to 4.2 million, which is almost 47% more. These figures show a common pattern of constant growth, with greater pressure on infrastructure and the territory, but also with differences in scale that reflect the centrality of Palma and the tourist intensity of Ibiza and Menorca.

Expansion works

To absorb the constant increase in passengers, Aena has carried out various remodeling and expansion works, with more fingers Since 2022, the company has always denied that this represents an increase in airport capacity and has used terms such as "operational improvement." The project, which began more than a year ago, aims to modernize the facilities to "improve the passenger experience," according to Aena sources.

With an investment of approximately €559 million, the project includes the remodeling of Module A, with a new elevated walkway connecting the terminal to the parking lot, as well as the installation of more advanced security systems that will allow electronic devices and liquids to be kept in hand luggage. The parking lot has also been expanded with a seventh floor, and a new commercial area has been created on level 4.

Despite the improvements, Aena has emphasized that these works will not increase the airport's operational capacity, but rather seek to adapt the facilities to current passenger needs.

Controversy and environmental impact

The project and the constant growth in passenger numbers, which are already approaching 50 million, have sparked controversy among environmental and social groups. Organizations such as the GOB have criticized the expansion, arguing that it will increase the number of flights and tourists, which will put further pressure on an island already saturated in terms of infrastructure and services. Platforms such as "No More Planes!" are fighting against Aena's intentions to expand Palma airport.