Record-breaking May for Canary Islands airports
The Canary Islands airports recorded a total of 4,109,173 passengers during the month of May, marking a significant 4.4% increase compared to the same month in 2024. This impressive growth demonstrates the archipelago’s continued appeal as a premier travel destination for both domestic and international visitors.
Of the total number of passengers registered, 4,094,585 corresponded to passengers on commercial flights. The breakdown reveals strong performance across both market segments: 1,927,859 travelers chose domestic flights (representing a 5.7% increase compared to May 2024), while 2,166,726 passengers opted for international flights (showing a 3.4% growth over the same period). Additionally, the airports handled 38,353 aircraft movements—a 4.2% increase—though freight transport decreased slightly to 2,712 tonnes, down 0.9% from the previous year.
Airport-by-airport passenger traffic breakdown
Gran Canaria Airport maintained its position as the archipelago’s busiest hub, welcoming 1,157,213 passengers and achieving a robust 5.7% increase compared to May 2024. This performance reinforces the island’s status as a key gateway for visitors exploring the Canary Islands.
Tenerife South Airport followed closely with 986,014 passengers, registering a modest but steady 1% growth. The airport continues to serve as a vital entry point for tourists heading to Tenerife’s popular southern resorts. César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport demonstrated solid performance with 688,717 passengers, reflecting a healthy 3.7% increase that speaks to Lanzarote’s growing appeal among travelers.
Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport showed impressive growth with 612,573 passengers, up 6.6% from the previous year. Fuerteventura Airport achieved the strongest percentage growth among the major airports, welcoming 511,110 passengers—an encouraging 8.4% increase that highlights the island’s rising popularity with beach lovers and adventure seekers.
Among the smaller airports, La Palma registered 117,381 passengers with a slight 0.1% decrease, while El Hierro recorded 24,825 passengers, down 2.3%. La Gomera Airport, despite its smaller scale, achieved remarkable growth with 11,340 passengers, representing an impressive 12.9% increase that suggests growing interest in this pristine island destination.
Strong year-to-date performance signals robust tourism recovery
The positive May results contribute to an excellent start to 2025, with Canary Islands airports registering 22,842,734 passengers from January through May—a substantial 4.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This sustained growth pattern indicates the archipelago’s strong recovery and continued attractiveness as a year-round destination.
Breaking down the five-month figures, 22,715,450 commercial passengers were recorded, with domestic travel accounting for 8,714,060 passengers (up 4.8%) and international travel representing 14,001,390 passengers (up 5.1%). The airports handled 202,803 aircraft movements during this period, showing a healthy 5.3% increase, though freight transport totaled 13,273 tonnes, reflecting a 3.3% decrease compared to 2024.
Canary Islands performance within Aena Group context
These impressive Canary Islands figures contribute significantly to the overall success of the Aena Group, which operates 46 airports and two heliports in Spain, London-Luton Airport, and 17 airports in Brazil. The entire network closed May 2025 with 34,482,916 passengers (up 3.8%), 297,321 aircraft movements (up 2.6%), and transported 126,911 tonnes of goods (up 5.4% compared to the previous year), demonstrating the Canary Islands’ important role in Spain’s aviation infrastructure.
