Easter holiday season is already here and the popular Twitter account @flightradar24 has shared an image that shows the massive amount of airplanes scheduled for the holiday season in the Canary Islands. The photo reveals a dense concentration of planes in the skies, demonstrating an increase in tourist demand during this season.
Easter is one of the most important dates for tourism in Spain, particularly for the Canary Islands. This year, the Hospitality and Tourism Federations of both provinces have informed EFE that an average occupancy of 85% is expected in hotel and non-hotel establishments in the province of Las Palmas, except in Fuerteventura where a minimum of 90% is expected, while in the islands of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, occupancy will range between 73 and 80%. The massive influx of European tourists who choose to spend Easter in the Canary Islands is causing air traffic to become congested. According to the Repsol Guide, the Canary Islands have been ranked among the 14 best places to spend Easter, with its beaches being one of the main attractions
The surge in tourists visiting the Canary Islands during Easter has caused a collapse in Europe’s airspace. The planes are arriving from different European airports and belong to various airlines, suggesting maximum coordination in the air at this time.
This increase in tourism demand in the Canary Islands during Easter is particularly important for tourists from countries such as Germany or the UK, as they seek warm weather that they cannot find in their own latitudes. As a result, the number of flights scheduled for the holiday season is significant and has led to an increase in air traffic density in the region.
In conclusion, the image shared by @flightradar24 clearly shows the impact that tourist demand has on air traffic in Europe during the holiday season. This increase in air traffic is particularly evident during Easter in the Canary Islands, where tourists arrive in large numbers to enjoy the warm weather and beautiful beaches of the region.
Despite inflation affecting citizens’ pockets, the tourism sector is optimistic about the Easter holidays, as there is a great desire to travel after a difficult year. This has led to an increase in demand for holiday packages, hotels, and plane tickets, which in turn has caused prices to rise even more due to inflation, suggesting that these will be the most expensive holidays in recent years.
According to the vice president of the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV), tourism activity will grow between 5% and 10% above 2019 levels, and holiday packages will be 10% more expensive, including a 12% increase in hotel prices and a 10% increase in airfares.
Despite inflation and higher prices, the tourism sector expects this week to mark the beginning of a boom that is expected to continue into the summer. In 2022, Spain received 14.3% fewer tourists than in 2019, the year before the pandemic, but 2023 is expected to mark the year of a return to normalcy.
In January 2023, the number of foreign tourists in Spain was only 100,000 less than in 2019, indicating a recovery of European and American tourists. However, “moderate optimism” and “caution” are urged due to the macroeconomic situation, which could reduce purchasing power and restrict consumption.
During Easter, over 60,000 flights have been scheduled in Spanish airports, a 1.5% increase from the previous year and a 4.6% decrease from 2019. Airlines such as Iberia and Vueling are expected to increase their capacity, and Renfe has added nearly 2 million additional seats due to high demand. Hotels are also expected to have good figures this week, with occupancy rates possibly approaching full capacity in coastal areas. The decrease in cancellations and the increase in reservations made well in advance reinforce the tourism sector’s optimism.
