Record Mexican Tourism Soars in Spain in 2024

Spain has reached a significant milestone in travel as more than 1 million visitors from Mexico touched down in 2024, marking a record-breaking year for the two nations. According to data released by Spain’s Tourism Institute, Turespaña, arrivals from Mexico surged by 9.7% year-on-year to hit 1,080,318, positioning Mexico as the second-largest non-European source market for Spain—only the United States surpasses it.

This milestone is not just about numbers; it reflects a robust increase in tourist spending as well. Mexican visitors spent a remarkable €2.94 billion ($3.08 billion) during their stay, a substantial 44% jump from 2023. This figure more than doubles the €1.18 billion spent in 2019, underlining the significant economic contribution Mexico is making to Spain’s tourism sector.

Driving this surge is the unprecedented expansion in airline capacity between the two countries. Data from OAG Schedules Analyser highlights that there were 2.2 million available two-way seats in 2024, a 5% year-on-year growth and nearly a 50% increase compared to 2019. This expanded capacity has been pivotal in accommodating the growing number of Mexican travelers, ensuring that the increased demand is met efficiently.

Aeromexico and Iberia have been at the forefront of this expansion, together providing about 70% of the available capacity on Mexico-Spain routes. Aeromexico, having recently launched new services such as Guadalajara-Madrid and Monterrey-Madrid in 2022, has notably increased its seat offerings. For the upcoming northern summer season, the airline is set to offer around 515,000 two-way seats—a substantial rise from the 294,000 seats available in summer 2019 on routes connecting Mexico and Spain.

Iberia continues to operate its exclusive Madrid-Mexico City route and is expected to offer approximately 439,000 seats, further cementing the strong air link between the two countries. Meanwhile, newer carriers like Emirates and World2Fly have begun to gain traction in this competitive market. Emirates plans to provide 127,000 seats on its fifth-freedom service linking Barcelona and Mexico City, while World2Fly, which launched its operations in 2021, has swiftly become a key player by offering 118,000 seats between Madrid and Cancun.

Looking ahead, Mexico is projected to be Spain’s third-largest non-European market for summer 2025, trailing only the United States and Colombia. Conversely, Spain is expected to rank as Mexico’s largest non-Americas market and its fifth-largest overall destination, signaling a strong mutual interest in continued travel between the two nations.

Spain’s aviation sector as a whole is poised for further growth in 2025. Aena, the Spanish airport operator, forecasts a 3.4% increase in passenger traffic, which is expected to reach approximately 320 million travelers across its network next year. In 2024, Aena-managed airports already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, handling 309.3 million passengers—a 9.2% rise from the previous year. Furthermore, Aena Group, responsible for airports in Spain, London Luton, and Aena Brasil, reported a record net profit of €1.9 billion for 2024, an 18.6% increase over 2023, with revenues growing by 13.3% to reach €5.8 billion.

This surge in Mexican tourism and overall aviation growth clearly highlights the renewed vigor of international travel, reaffirming Spain’s status as a top global destination.

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