Barcelona Airport registers record passenger numbers in November
New bag scanners next year will mean end of requirement to remove liquids and laptops from hand luggage
Passenger numbers at Barcelona Airport surpassed 2019 figures for the first time in November, with 3.8 million people using the airport, 4.3% more than the same month in the last pre-pandemic year.
Airport director Eva Valenzuela told media on Tuesday that 25,100 take-offs and landings were registered, 1% more than four years ago.
Valenzuela explained that there is still room to increase the 50 intercontinental routes that Barcelona Airport has – three more than in 2019 – but that the limit could be reached if all airlines want to fly during peak hours.
The airport director also announced that next year they will launch new bag scanners that will mean the end of the requirement to remove liquids and laptops from hand luggage when passing through security.
November saw an increase in passengers of 18.1% compared to the same month in 2022, while the total number of passengers so far this year, from January to November, is up 20.1% on the same period last year.
Among travelers in November 2023, 2.78 million were on international flights, 21.7% more than in 2022, and 1.03 million were on domestic flights, 9.8% more than last November.
Total passenger numbers this year are still 6.1% below 2019 figures. So far, 46 million have flown in to or out of the Catalan capital, with the number expected to reach around 50 million by the end of the year.