Spain, one of the most popular destinations for British holidaymakers, is facing some setbacks as its primary source market, the UK (with 17.2 million visitors in 2023) is seeing a significant rise of over 30% in low-cost flights to Spanish territory including the Canary Islands.
According to the latest study by data analysts for the tourism industry, Mabrian Technologies, low-cost air routes, currently representing 68.5% of the total number of available seats to destinations in Spain, are driving flight prices up for the summer season.
While average prices on conventional airlines remain higher, the price hike is more pronounced in low-cost carriers. This marks a shift in the global trend compared to the period between 2021 and 2023 when prices for conventional airlines surged by 40%, compared to just 6% for low-cost carriers, driving the overall increase in fares.
The data corresponds to the year-on-year price variation for flights to Spain between June 1st and September 15th, 2024, from its five main capacity-emitting markets: the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. Overall, average airfares in these five markets are up by 26%.
Among the five markets analysed, low-cost fares to Spain decreased in just two of them compared to 2023: Italy (-5.4% with an average price of 105 euros) and France (-6.8%, average price: 124 euros). However, they have increased in the UK (+31.3%) to an average price of 210 euros; in Germany (+5%, average price: 187 euros); and in the Netherlands (+7.3% with an average price of 176 euros).
"The price increase we are witnessing reflects, on one hand, the rising operational costs of airlines and, on the other hand, the growing demand to and from Spain for this summer season," explains Carlos Cendra, Marketing and Communications Director of Mabrian.
