Airlines summer schedules for Balearic airports represent a total of 46.2 million seats, an increase of 17.1% over last year. The summer season, defined as running from 25 March to 27 October, will involve around 268,000 flights, a rise of almost sixteen per cent. The Spanish airports authority Aena reports that there will be 622 routes, 45 more than in 2017.
For Palma, the airlines have programmed 33.3 million seats, an increase of 21.5%. By markets, Germany has the most - a provisional amount of 12.9 million, up by 38.9%. Aena notes that this figure is due to decrease because not all adjustments have been finalised in respect of flights previously operated by Niki. For the UK market, there are almost six million seats, an increase of 2.5%. For the domestic Spanish market, there are just over 5.9 million, up by 12.8%. The number of flights is put at around 188,500 - 20% more than last year. There will be 38 more routes, making a total of 386.
For Ibiza airport, there is an increase of 8.7% in the number of seats to over 9.1 million. The Spanish market claims the most - 3.2 million, up by 13% - followed by the UK with 2.3 million (a 2.2% rise). For Minorca, the total is up 4.2% to more than 3.7 million seats. There are 1.6 million for the Spanish market, a rise of 4.2, and a 1.1% increase for the UK market to 1.2 million. There are notable increases for Italian and German flights. Respectively, these are up 14.2% and 13.2% to more than 300,000 and 177,000 seats.
For Spain as a whole, there is a 10.5% increase to 222.5 million seats. At Madrid and Barcelona there are rises of nine per cent to, respectively, 44.2 million and 41.7 million seats. Palma, as is always the case, ranks third. Malaga-Costa del Sol has 4.7% more (16.1 million), Alicante-Elche goes up three per cent to 11.5 million. Gran Canaria has an increase of 14% to 9.6 million. In terms of foreign flights, the UK market is scheduled to have more than 37.5 million seats, a slight decrease of 0.6% on account of a Brexit effect and the collapse of Monarch Airlines. The German market, the second largest, has around 30 million seats, a rise of 22%.
* It should be pointed out that these are figures for flights to and from airports.
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Have they got a policy ?
Just to point out - The Balearic government has no powers regarding the scheduling of flights. It would like to have them, hence successive governments have sought co-management of the airport. The scheduling is up to the airport management, the Aena airports authority and the national ministry of development. Agreed, nevertheless, that the increase in flights does seem to contradict government (Balearic government) policy.
Agree that it is confusing that they allow so many more flights this year. The only reasonable explanation is that they hope that those tourists will go to the interior of the island. Otherwise it doesn't make sense. About the airlines they need profits to survive. Taking one price in high season as an example of how unreasonable it is to expect people to pay such prices isn't correct. Airlines use flexible pricing. They change their prices all the time. They will sell most of their seats but they will not be able to charge the prices Ron talks about for all those seats.
The airlines may have programmed 33+ million flights to Mallorca this summer, but this doesn't mean they are going to sell all those places. They are basing this on last year I suppose, and not accounting for the fact that there will be many less villa and apartment rentals, as well as increased hotel prices and doubled tourist tax. Just checking on flights from our local airport (Southampton) and I find that some Sunday flights to Palma in July and August are from a staggering £346.99 (one way!) Am I missing something but is this nowadays a realistic price to pay for a single flight for a family holiday, or what sort of market are they trying to target?
Why are the government allowing more flights when they state they want to reduce visitors. As tourists can only arrive by boat or air surely the reduction in flights is a solution on how to minimise visitor levels. By allowing more flights they encourage more people to visit. I also have read about the concerns of people living near the airport complaining about noise , pollution and the density of incoming and outgoing flights. This is all very confusing with no clear definitive reasoning. Is one organisation managing this or do we have several ? , none of them knowing what the other is doing.
We await your comments Jason.
More tourists staying in more hotel spaces spending less in resorts. . Probably.
So Tourist Saturation is on the increase. The wait at Passport Control will increase to 5 Hours, both on arrival and departure. Predictions of a reduction of Tourists this coming Season, would appear to be wrong, based on this article on increased flights and seats.