Valencia Airport is flying high in 2025, setting records month after month and heading for another year beyond its official capacity. In July alone, the airport handled 1,132,402 passengers — its highest monthly figure ever — marking a 4.2% increase compared to July 2024, according to airport operator Aena.
The growth was driven by international travel, which saw 848,461 passengers, up 7.8% from last year. Domestic traffic, however, fell by 5.6%, with 281,236 passengers. These figures cover only commercial flights.
International Routes Lead the Growth
Italy topped the list of international routes in June, bringing in 173,814 passengers. Germany followed with 92,787, the United Kingdom with 89,340, France with 87,006, and the Netherlands with 85,837 passengers. These markets continue to anchor Valencia’s strong inbound and outbound tourism flows.
In total, the airport recorded 8,777 aircraft movements in July, a 4.8% rise compared to the same month in 2024. For the first seven months of the year, Valencia Airport handled 6,738,445 passengers — a 9.8% year-on-year increase — and 53,556 flights, up 8.5%.
Operating Beyond Capacity
Valencia Airport, located in Manises, ended 2024 with 10.81 million passengers, more than 300,000 above the 10.5 million limit defined as its maximum capacity in the current Dora (Airport Regulation Document), valid until next year. With 2025 on track for even higher numbers, the government has confirmed that the next Dora will include plans to expand the facility to prevent chronic overcrowding.
The expansion is expected to address bottlenecks and prepare for continued growth, as Valencia cements its position as a key gateway for both tourism and business travel in Spain.
Part of a Nationwide Trend
Across the Aena network — which includes 46 airports and two heliports in Spain, London Luton Airport in the UK, and 17 facilities in Brazil — July 2025 saw a total of 38,474,698 passengers, a 2.7% increase compared to the same month last year. Aircraft movements rose 0.9% to 319,591, and cargo volumes surged 10.1% to 130,508 tonnes.
Spain’s busiest airport, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, led the way with 6,170,130 passengers in July, up 0.6% from 2024. It was followed by Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat with 5,540,010 passengers (+2.9%), Palma de Mallorca with 4,594,987 (-0.1%), Málaga-Costa del Sol with 2,866,642 (+7.8%), and Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández with 2,106,991 (+5.9%).
Record-Breaking Month for Multiple Airports
July 2025 set all-time passenger records for several Spanish airports, including Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Málaga-Costa del Sol, Alicante-Elche, Valencia, Bilbao, and Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de la Laguna. The data underscores the strength of Spain’s air travel sector, despite shifting patterns in domestic and international demand.
Valencia’s growth story reflects both its increasing popularity as a tourist destination and its growing role in regional connectivity. With strong links to Italy, Germany, the UK, France, and the Netherlands, the airport serves as a bridge between the Mediterranean and key European markets.
As expansion plans move forward, the challenge will be to maintain service quality and operational efficiency while accommodating record-breaking passenger volumes. If current trends continue, 2025 could become a milestone year for Valencia Airport — one that cements its place among Spain’s busiest and most dynamic transport hubs.
