Málaga Airport Tops Two Million Passengers in March for First Time — Brits Lead the Surge

A New Monthly Record

More than two million passengers passed through Málaga Airport in March — a 9% increase on the same month last year and the third consecutive monthly rise on what was already a record-breaking 2025, when the airport came close to 27 million passengers.

Brits Take the Lion's Share

Over 430,000 travellers flew to or from the UK, keeping Britain comfortably in the top spot for international traffic at Málaga. The breakdown by country:

• UK: 430,000+
• Germany: 165,000
• Netherlands: 123,000
• Italy: 98,000
• Ireland: 90,000

Domestic Traffic Surges Too

More than 360,000 passengers in March were travelling to or from Spanish destinations — a 12.5% surge year-on-year. Airport authorities say disruption on Spain's AVE high-speed train network is partly to blame, with works and service interruptions pushing more domestic travellers to opt for flights instead.

The chaos on Spain's rail network following the Adamuz train disaster in January threw key AVE routes to Andalucía into disarray, including links to Málaga Airport.

The Iran War 'Refuge Effect'

As tensions linked to the Iran conflict disrupted travel to parts of the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, holidaymakers have increasingly shifted towards destinations perceived as more stable — with Spain among the main beneficiaries of the change in demand.

On Track for Another Record Year

Málaga Airport is now well on track to surpass last year's passenger traffic record. For the large British expat community on the Costa del Sol and the millions of tourists who visit each year, the airport's continued growth is a sign of the region's enduring appeal.

This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published April 13, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only.