The Spanish State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) has authorised a total of 205 flight programmes for the winter season, representing a 6% increase over the same period last year. These authorisations are in response to requests submitted by airlines for this season, which began on 26 October, to fly to airports outside the European Union.
Of this total, 107 correspond to services operated by the airlines themselves to third countries outside the European Union (EU) and 98 to services under code-sharing agreements, i.e. alliances between airlines to jointly transport their passengers. Services between EU airports do not require authorisation. Flight schedules are the operations planned by airlines with a timetable and airport of origin and destination that are repeated every week.
Of the services operated on their own, in terms of the type of service authorised, 84 schedules correspond to scheduled flights, 23 to charter flights - for which tickets are not purchased directly from the airlines - and the rest to operations under code-sharing agreements. Depending on the nature of the service to be provided, 175 programmes are for passenger transport and 30 are exclusively for air cargo transport.
With regard to the operating companies and authorised flight connections, the approved services involve airlines from around 40 countries, allowing direct connections between Spain and airports in around 50 countries outside the European Union. If we add to these services those authorised under code-sharing agreements, the scope of connections is extended to more than 130 countries.
A new feature compared to the previous winter season is the authorisation of new routes to countries such as Tanzania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, thus increasing activity in the Balkan region. In addition, connections with Chinese cities have increased, such as the destinations of Wenzhou, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Chengdu. Furthermore, for the first time, a direct route to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) has been authorised.
Spain is strengthening its air connectivity for the winter season, with 137.6 million seats scheduled across departures and arrivals, which is 3.5% more than last year, according to airport authority Aena data. From 26 October to 28 March, airlines will operate 788,400 flights, with the European market playing a leading role, exceeding 77 million seats. The United Kingdom remains the main international source market, with 17.8 million seats (+5.7%), followed by Germany, with 10.8 million.