MADRID, 5 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The airports of the Aena network in Spain will manage 15,224 flights for this Three Kings weekend, between today, January 5, and Sunday, January 7, which will be marked by the strike of Iberia’s handling workers after the last negotiation meeting with the unions failed.

Compared to 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic and a record for air transport, 9.3% more flights will be operated this year than four years ago, when 13,921 operations were reached. It is also 13% higher than 2022, with 13,464 movements, as confirmed by the airport manager to Europa Press.

The busiest day of operations will be Sunday, with 5,316 flights scheduled to and from Aena airports, while 4,956 operations are planned for this Friday. On the contrary, the day with the fewest flights will be Saturday, with 4,952 flights.

Flight scheduling is subject to changes that may occur in the operations of the different airlines depending on the different situations that arise.

The strike has forced Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum to cancel more than 444 flights, affecting more than 45,000 passengers. The company has already found accommodation for 92% of them, either being relocated to other flights, dates or times, or if they have preferred, receiving a refund for their tickets.

The company has assured that it continues working to relocate the rest according to possibilities, taking into account the complexity of the dates, just after Christmas, and the high load factor of the flights.

The Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport will, as always, host the most flights, with a total of 3,138 flights, 7% more than last year. The day with the most flights will be Sunday, with 1,073, followed by Friday (1,072) and Saturday (993).

Barajas is followed by the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport, from where 2,517 flights will be managed in these three days, 23% more. The busiest day will be Friday, with 874 operations.

The rest of the ranking of airports with the most activity is completed by Málaga-Costa del Sol, where 1,183 operations will be carried out (11%), Gran Canaria, with 1,220 flights (12%), and Palma de Mallorca, with 943 movements (1.4%).