What to expect from travel in Spain over Christmas 2025

"This year, Spain expects Spain expects more than 100,000 flights over the festive season, an increase of 7.8 percent compared with last year. Spain's airport operator Aena has revealed that there are a total of 101,793 flights scheduled between December 19th 2025 and January 7th, 2026. The quietest day will be Christmas Day, December 25th, with 3,515 flights scheduled, 8.7 percent more than on the same day in 2024. The three busiest airports will be Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, and Malaga-Costa del Sol."

"Both the USO and CGT workers' unions have called for partial strikes at South Europe Ground Services, the ground handling service of the IAG group at Madrid-Barajas. This means walkouts on December 23rd, 26th and 30th, 2025 and on January 2nd and 7th 2026. According to a statement released by both unions, these partial strikes will take place from 8am to midday and from 6pm 8pm. They are demanding the correction of payrolls and schedules to allow for a better work-life balance."

"Since October 12th, airports across Spain have been rolling out the EU's new Entry/Exit System or EES in which non-EU citizens have to register, as well as get their photos and fingerprints taken. This has meant extra queuing at several airports, while teething issues are ironed out. Airports which faced difficulties were Tenerife South, Malaga Airport and Alicante, where people reported having to wait for several hours."

Spain expects more than 100,000 flights between December 19, 2025 and January 7, 2026, a 7.8% increase on last year, with 101,793 flights scheduled and the busiest airports being Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat and Malaga-Costa del Sol. Christmas Day will be the quietest day with 3,515 flights, still up 8.7% from 2024. Partial strikes by USO and CGT at South Europe Ground Services in Madrid-Barajas are planned on specific dates and times, with demands over payrolls and schedules and potential for delays and longer queues. The EU EES rollout since October 12th requires photos and fingerprints for non-EU citizens, causing extra queuing at several airports.

Read at www.thelocal.es