Andalusia's Airline Industry To Experience Greater Summer Growth Than Canary And Balearic Islands

According to Javier Gándara, president of the Association of Airlines (ALA), the airlines are banking on the allure of Andalusia this summer, with a forecast of growth that surpasses that of the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, as well as the historical year of 2019. Malaga airport is expected to be the driving force behind this growth in Andalusian destinations, with a predicted 14 percent increase in seats for flights to and from the Costa del Sol during the high season. Gándara highlighted that the rise in Malaga is not just driven by vacation and urban tourism but also by business travellers.

As of April 14, ALA data revealed that almost 25.6 million seats have been offered for travel to and from Andalusian airports this summer, representing an 8.2 percent increase from the high season of 2019. This growth forecast is almost one point higher than that of the airlines in the Canary Islands, with a rise of 7.8 percent, and the Balearic Islands, with a rebound of 7.4 percent.

Moreover, the Andalusian destinations' strength is confirmed in that the programmed increase is five points above the national average, with 219 million seats offered throughout Spain, representing a 3 percent increase from 2019. Gándara expressed confidence that long queues at passport controls and flight cancellations due to inadequate infrastructure will not be a problem this summer, citing Spain's effective management during the pandemic.

Gándara also cited the United States, France, Italy, and Portugal as the main countries driving traffic to Andalusian destinations, with the United Kingdom being the primary country sending travellers to the Costa del Sol.

However, he expressed concern that France's air traffic controller strike could cause delays and suspensions, saying “Spain is the country most affected by the air traffic controllers' strike in France, which is causing delays and cancellations. And the most worrying thing is that 90 percent of the delayed operations have neither origin nor destination in French airports, but are on flights in French airspace.”

To avoid these issues, Gándara said that France should be required to ensure that overflights are protected by minimum services, as Spain and Italy already do. He also warned of a potential increase in ticket prices due to the high cost of kerosene, which accounts for 30 percent of companies' costs. He urged airlines to keep their rates affordable for everyone, given the desire to travel during the summer.

Finally, Gándara defended the privatisation of the control towers of seven Spanish airports, including Malaga, claiming that Enaire could also compete in the same. He also asked the Spanish government to defend against the EU tax on kerosene, warning that Spain could lose 4.5 million tourists and 169,000 jobs in 2030. Moreover, he urged administrations and companies to work together to ensure the sustainability of air transport, following the creation of a great alliance to make this sector a more sustainable industry.

Sources

https://www.diariosur.es/turismo/aerolineas-creceran-verano-andalucia-canarias-baleares-20230424125937-nt.html
https://24noticias.org/los-vuelos-de-verano-despegan-con-mas-de-25-millones-de-plazas-desde-o-hacia-los-aeropuertos-de-andalucia/