Aena to introduce passenger limits at Madrid and Barcelona airports ahead of 2027 growth phase

Spanish airport operator Aena plans to optimise capacity use at Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat by introducing terminal-specific passenger limits from summer 2027, marking a shift in how airport capacity is defined and managed.

Until now, capacity at Spain’s largest airports has been measured primarily at runway level. Under the new approach, Aena will also publish and manage capacity by terminal and traffic type, reflecting congestion constraints during peak hours. The operator says this will allow more efficient use of existing infrastructure and better distribution of passenger flows throughout the day.

The change is intended to improve service quality without reducing overall airport capacity, and will primarily affect airlines seeking to add or shift operations during peak periods. Existing slot rights will remain unchanged.

Aena has already briefed airlines through coordination meetings organised via the Spanish slot allocation framework (AECFA). The formal capacity proposal for both airports will be submitted to Spain’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) for approval and subsequent publication.

The new system is designed to support demand management ahead of the 2027–2031 investment cycle (DORA 3), during which planned infrastructure upgrades are expected to alleviate current terminal constraints. In the meantime, Aena aims to redistribute demand more evenly by encouraging movement of flights away from peak hours, improving utilisation of available terminal space and reducing congestion pressures at Spain’s two busiest airports.