Palma's Son Sant Joan Airport is preparing for a very busy weekend. May Day holidays are helping to push forecast passenger numbers up towards levels not far off what might be registered over a July weekend. The airports authority Aena expects some 2,050 flights and almost 350,000 passengers (these are figures for arrivals and departures).
But the holidays are only part of the reason. Last weekend there were some 300,000 passengers. Despite the volume of arrivals, hotels on the island are currently working on occupancy rates of between 65% and 75%. Occupancy in some instances is said to be down five per cent compared with 2017, even if profitability is increasing. Prices have risen on average by five per cent. The association of hotel chains says that there is no need to engage in a price discount war; it is too soon to be considering this.
As arrivals are up but hotel occupancy is down, then holiday rental accommodation must be in good demand. Regardless of any impact of Balearic legislation, there are plenty of "regulated" rental places. Wherever visitors are staying, low-cost airlines are increasing their passenger numbers, and this applies right through the summer.
Around the resorts, hotel occupancy in May is forecast to be the same as last year or slightly down. Playa de Palma hoteliers are looking at 70%, as was the case in 2017. In Palmanova and Magalluf the forecast is 71%, two points down, while in Alcudia and Can Picafort the expectation is a drop of five per cent from 80% last year. In Alcudia and Can Picafort, some hotels do currently have offers for June to August. In Palmanova and Magalluf, the numbers for June and July are good but less so for August and September.