Airlines Boost Flights Between UK and Costa del Sol by 11% This Winter

Airlines are increasing capacity on routes from the UK to Spain’s Costa del Sol this winter, adding 11% more seats for travelers seeking a sunny escape. Eight airlines operating at Malaga Airport have expanded their offerings, with Ryanair leading the way, followed by easyJet, Jet2.com, and British Airways.

This boost in air connectivity underscores the Costa del Sol’s popularity among British tourists, with 2.2 million travelers arriving from the UK this year—a 6.4% increase in the first nine months alone. Airlines expect to sustain this growth in the year’s final quarter, with 719,320 seats available on flights between the UK and Malaga Airport from October to December.

Of these additional seats, nearly 300,000 are designated for flights between Malaga and London, an 11% increase. Manchester follows with 79,598 seats, and Bristol with 50,884. Rounding out the top 10 most connected British destinations to Malaga are Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, East Midlands, Belfast, Leeds, and Newcastle. The route from Bournemouth has seen the greatest increase, with seats rising by 36.5% to over 13,800, while Birmingham and Liverpool routes have grown by 25% and 19%, respectively.

On the opposite end, Cardiff, Exeter, and Aberdeen have seen slight reductions in seats—down by 5.1%, 5.8%, and 19.7%, respectively. Despite these reductions, the overall expansion of capacity reflects strong demand from British tourists.

At the World Travel Market in London, Turismo Costa del Sol’s CEO, Esperanza González, presented strategies to attract even more British visitors, emphasizing their importance as a market that contributes significantly to the region’s tourism economy. González noted that 2024 has been the best year for British tourism in the area, with over 900,000 travelers from London alone and 100,000 to 250,000 from other major UK cities, including Manchester, Bristol, and Glasgow.

“The challenge is to attract a holidaymaker who travels year-round and stays longer,” González said, pledging to increase marketing investment in the UK to €1.5 million in 2024—a €500,000 increase from this year.

Despite a temporary suspension of the Southampton route, Malaga Airport remains connected to 16 UK cities, thanks to these airlines. The commitment from carriers to increase capacity ensures British tourists will continue to enjoy accessible, frequent flights to the Costa del Sol, bolstering the region’s allure as a year-round destination for British visitors.