The Biscayan infrastructure has achieved its best March figures since its inauguration in 1948. In the first quarter of the year, the airport has reached record passenger numbers thanks to route optimization, despite a slight decrease in aircraft operations.

An analysis of the first quarter of 2026 reveals an interesting fact: while the cumulative number of passengers for the year increased by 6.4%, nearing 1.4 million travelers, aircraft operations decreased by 0.9%. The key to this apparent contradiction lies in occupancy rates. Airlines are operating planes with fewer empty seats, allowing the airport to break historical traffic records without disproportionately increasing pressure on the runways.

The main driver of this phenomenon is, undoubtedly, the foreign traveler. March data reflects a shift in the user profile at La Paloma airport. International passenger traffic surged by 16.3%, exceeding 246,800 travelers, while domestic passenger numbers fell by 1.3%, settling at 313,497 people.

This shift in traffic from the domestic to the international market typically leads to higher spending per passenger and longer stays, which strengthens the airport's economic impact on the territory beyond just the number of operations.

With this March closing, Bilbao consolidates the best start to a year in its history. In total, 1,394,695 people have passed through the terminal in the first three months. This solid growth is supported by operations that, although slightly fewer in number of flights, are much more effective. On the eve of the summer season, Loiu demonstrates that it has learned to grow "inwardly," maximizing each takeoff and establishing itself as the absolute reference point for the Atlantic Arc.