Barcelona-El Prat Airport breaks all-time passenger record for January

The airport exceeded 3.8 million travelers driven by international traffic growth and improved operational efficiency.

Aerial view of a commercial airport runway with parked airplanes.
IA

Aerial view of a commercial airport runway with parked airplanes.

Barcelona-El Prat Airport recorded its best January in history this 2026, surpassing 3.8 million passengers for the first time during the first month of the year.

According to data released by AENA this Thursday, the airport handled 3,806,895 passengers, a 3% increase compared to 2025. International traffic was the main driver, growing by 4.8% to reach 2.8 million travelers.
Operational efficiency also improved significantly. While passenger numbers rose, the total number of flights decreased slightly by 0.2% to 24,537, indicating higher aircraft occupancy rates.
Cargo transport also saw a record-breaking month, with 15,611 tons of goods moved, representing a 16.5% year-on-year increase, strengthening the airport's role as a key logistics hub in Southern Europe.