The report's findings place Barcelona airport as the seventh busiest in terms of passengers on the continent. The increase in intercontinental capacity amounts to 3.69 million seats across 46 routes, one more than the previous season.
Of these routes, ten have United States airports as their origin or destination, representing two out of every ten long-haul connections. This trend confirms the North American country as one of the main engines of growth, with American Airlines playing a relevant role.
The country currently led by Donald Trump is consolidating as one of the main growth engines for El Prat airport.
Other prominent airlines include Emirates, which leads the capacity with 448,000 seats, and Level, with 395,000. The report also highlights that, despite not being a major intercontinental hub like Madrid or Paris, Barcelona climbs to the fifth European position in direct routes, reflecting its potential as a final destination.
Furthermore, the Chamber's report points to a trend towards "less seasonal" operations, with sustained growth between 2022 and 2025 in both summer and winter. This data is released amid the ongoing debate about the expansion, coinciding with the Government initiating procedures to promote a new Catalan Airport Authority.
