New flight routes bring the world closer to Spain
Spain will enter the 2026 winter with broader, more diversified air connectivity. New routes, increased frequency reinforcements, and direct connections will facilitate the arrival of international travelers to Madrid, Barcelona, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Alicante, Valencia, Seville, San Sebastián, and Bilbao from markets such as America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This new flight map reduces stopovers, extends seasons, and opens opportunities in destinations seeking to attract demand both from long-haul and nearby European markets.
America
The United States is strengthening its connection to Spain with Delta, which launched the Madrid-Boston route, with daily flights, and the Barcelona-Seattle route, with three flights a week, in May. Madrid is therefore strengthening its role as the gateway from the U.S. East Coast and Southeast, while Barcelona gains direct access from Seattle and extends its reach towards the West Coast. Canada gains prominence among island destinations. In June, Air Canada launched a seasonal route between Palma de Mallorca and Montreal, with three flights per week and interest in extending operations in future and has scheduled direct flights between Tenerife South and Toronto and Montreal for the winter, with a total of three flights per week. Gran Canaria is also set to open to the Canadian market with Air Transat. Between December and April, the island will be connected with two flights per week: Sundays departing to Montreal and Mondays to Toronto, while flights from Canada will depart on Saturdays from Montreal and Sundays from Toronto airport. In Latin America, Level inaugurated a direct route between Barcelona and Lima in June, with three flights per week and around 80,000 seats planned until March 2027.
Asia
Asia is expanding its presence in Spanish connectivity with new operations and schedule adjustments. China Southern Airlines increased the Madrid-Guangzhou route to a daily flight from June 5, reinforcing access from southern China. Iberia has adapted its Madrid-Tokyo route to a nighttime schedule for the winter season, improving early arrivals to the country from Japan and facilitating onward connections. Alicante is also extending its international reach with Pegasus Airlines, which started an annual Alicante-Istanbul route in June, with four flights per week. This connection facilitates visitor flows to the Costa Blanca from Turkey, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
From October, Singapore Airlines extended its Singapore-Barcelona route to Madrid, with five flights per week, making Madrid the airline’s second Spanish destination, adding a new gateway from Southeast Asia.
Middle East
The Gulf is strengthening its direct connections with Spain. Riyadh Air added Madrid to its initial international network with the Riyadh-Madrid route from July, operating four flights per week. In June, Etihad Airways launched the first direct Abu Dhabi-Palma de Mallorca route, with three weekly flights until mid-September, but with plans to extend the season in 2027. This connection opens a direct route to the Balearic Islands from the United Arab Emirates and other markets linked by the airline’s global network.
Africa
In June, Air Europa launched a rout from Madrid to Johannesburg, with three flights per week. This operation opens a direct route between Spain and the main economic hub of South Africa, with the potential for connections to other destinations in southern Africa. The airline also added Tangier for the first time to its schedule and reinstated Marrakech and Tunis. Royal Air Maroc has expanded its provisions between Morocco and Spain with nine routes and more than 80 flights per week. This schedule includes connections from Tetouan, Tangier, Nador and Casablanca to cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Bilbao and Alicante.
In April, Medsky Airways opened a Madrid-Tripoli route, with two weekly flights in each direction. This decision reopens a direct connection between both capitals and restores regular air service with Libya.
Europe
In Europe, Finnair launched the Valencia-Helsinki route in April as an annual operation, with four weekly flights scheduled for the winter season, while Air Serbia launched an Alicante-Belgrade route in June, with two weekly flights, facilitating arrivals to the Costa Blanca from Serbia and other destinations connected via Belgrade. Volotea inaugurated a San Sebastián-Florence route in September, with two flights per week. This is the airline’s first international connection from San Sebastián and adds a new flow from Italy to the Basque city. easyJet operated various connections to Spain during the winter month: Fuerteventura-Newcastle, Málaga-Bordeaux, Gran Canaria-Bordeaux and Seville-Hamburg; expanding arrivals from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany during the low season. Jet2.com incorporated La Palma into its network with a route from Manchester, operational year-round with two flights per week. Starting in November, the company will add a London Stansted-La Palma route with one flight per week, thereby strengthening British arrivals to the island.
A more accessible Spain for international visitors
The 2026 outlook depicts a Spain that is more connected to transoceanic and neighboring markets. Overall, the flight schedule is improving the country's capacity to attract international travelers for more months of the year and from a broader network of origins.