Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) served over 5 million passengers in April 2026, reaching a total of 5,103,478 travellers. This figure represents a 4.1% increase compared to the same month in the previous year. The airport continues its role as a key infrastructure for mobility in Catalonia and its capital, Barcelona.
Record Passenger Growth
Aena, the Spanish airport operator, reported this new record for the Catalan airport. The airport has accumulated nearly 17.4 million passengers throughout 2026, showing an increase of over 4% from 2025. Aena attributes this rise partly to a transfer of passengers from rail services. This follows recent high-speed rail accidents in Andalusia and a Rodalies accident near Gelida.
Commercial Flights and Cargo Operations
Commercial flights accounted for the vast majority of passengers, with 5,098,131 travellers. International flights saw 3,861,750 passengers, a 3.7% rise from 2025. National flights carried 1,236,381 passengers, an increase of 5.5% year-on-year. Beyond passenger traffic, Barcelona-El Prat Airport also handled a significant volume of cargo, according to passenger numbers. The airport moved 17,151 tonnes of goods in April, a 9% increase compared to 2025.
Spain's Air Travel Landscape
Across Spain, only Madrid-Barajas Airport recorded more passengers than Barcelona-El Prat. Madrid's airport handled 5,776,833 travellers, exceeding Barcelona's figures by 673,355. Mallorca and Málaga airports followed Barcelona in passenger volume. The entire Aena network, which manages airports across Spain, reached 33,494,009 passengers in April. This marks a 3.6% increase from the previous year.
Barcelona-El Prat Airport continues to be a critical transport hub for Catalonia and its capital, Barcelona. Its sustained growth reflects ongoing demand for air travel and its importance to the region's economy and tourism sector.
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Originally published by Tot Barcelona. Read original article.
