Low cost airlines gain more passengers than traditional airlines

The latest data from the Ministry of Tourism on air traffic in Spain show an accumulated increase in passengers so far this year of 12.6% among low-cost airlines, compared to 10.8% for traditional airlines. The United Kingdom, Italy and Germany are leading the way in terms of arrivals.

In absolute numbers, both low-cost and traditional airlines carried some 31.7 million passengers in Spain from January to September, which indicates that they share the market 50/50, according to data from the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism gathered by Europa Press.

The United Kingdom, with 11.6 million passengers and 36.8% of the total, leads low-cost arrivals to Spain through September, after an increase of 14.4%. It is followed by Italy, with 11.8% of arrivals by this route, up 9.8% to almost 3.75 million travelers; and Germany, with 11% of the total and almost 3.5 million travelers, representing an increase of 13.3%. France, the fourth largest outbound market, with 8.5% of the total number of passengers on low-cost airlines, increased its passengers by 10.6% to 2.68 million during the same period analyzed.

By region, Catalonia accounted for 28.1% of low-cost passengers, with more than 8.91 million travelers. The Balearic Islands was the second most benefited region, receiving 16.3% of low-cost passengers, up to 5.17 million. In third place was Andalusia, with 14.8% of the total number of arrivals by this means, up to 4.69 million. The Community of Madrid accounted for 10.9% of total arrivals, to over 3.45 million passengers after an increase of 6.3%.

Among the low-cost airlines (LCCs), Ryanair, easyJet and Vueling continue to lead the ranking, together accounting for 65.4% of the volume of low-cost passengers and 32.5% of the total international air traffic flow received in Spain.