Another record-breaking summer in Spain — General Aviation Service about key trends

I think that quite a lot of people, like me, have chosen Spain as their holiday destination. The diversity of the landscapes and activities are just some of the reasons why. I admit that even during my holidays I pay attention to the work of the “business aviation soldiers”—those who really make sure that flights, ground handling, and all other aspects of your trip go off without a hitch. I got the chance to ask Luis Hurtado Barrutia, Commercial Director of General Aviation Service, some questions regarding summer 2025 before back-to-school season.

T.O. What can you say about business aviation activities in Spain after three months of summer 2025? Most-visited airports, rising traffic, customer trends, newcomers?

L.H.B. With a slight increase over the previous year but still strong numbers, small jets remains the dominant force in Ibiza and Palma De Mallorca.Valencia and Barcelona are really doing amazing job in terms of traffic in the summer as they have been providing long term parking when most of airports were declining more parking days.

We signed up with big and well known operator and boosted Alicante, Reus , Girona and specially Malaga. General Aviation Service staff is doing record traffic overall and delivering amazing service even with the astonishing increase in certain stations.

T.O. The workforce is a critical issue. Are you going to do anything before the next peak season? Do you think young people would be interested in working in this field?

L.H.B. It's a constant challenge at the moment. At each base, we are constantly seeking recruits to bolster our teams. We are fortunate to always find great people to expand our teams. In fact, the search and recruitment process must be ongoing. Since competitors are attempting to hire our employees as well, we discovered that everyone is in the same situation.

T.O. For at least two more months, Spain has fantastic weather. Which citieswould you highlight to visit?

L.H.B. Although corporate destinations like Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga will begin to see a resurgence in business travel, the weather is expected to hold until the end of September and Balearic, Alicante Valencia, and Malaga will continue to draw large numbers of clients. Here are 3 events we could suggest to think about:

Comic-Con Málaga (25–28 September)

The first international edition of the iconic Comic-Con outside the United States. Expected to attract around 60,000 attendees, with the participation of major names from film, television, comics, and video games.

Jerez Wine Harvest Festival – Jerez de la Frontera (30 August – 14 September)

A prestigious enological event celebrating the culture of Sherry wine, including tastings, cultural performances, and exclusive activities in historic wineries.

San Sebastian Film festival ( 19- 27 September )

San Sebastian Film festival also known as Zinemaldia and the driving force behind the close relationship between the city and cinema. Some of the biggest names in film history are now linked to Donostia/San Sebastián. And anyone who has visited the city during the festival has succumbed to its charm: Federico Fellini, Audrey Hepburn, Alfred Hitchcock, Jean-Luc Godard, Sophia Loren, Luis Buñuel, François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, Orson Welles...