Airlines Begin Cutting Surplus Seats After Overcapacity

Air connectivity stabilizes after years of rapid growth

The Canary Islands’ air links with the rest of Spain have entered a stabilisation phase following several years of accelerated expansion, according to data presented by the Canary Islands Ministry of Tourism and Employment at the second day of FITUR.

Minister Jéssica de León explained that total air capacity this winter falls by 2 %, while the number of seats connecting the archipelago with the peninsula increases by 720,000. For the upcoming summer, the regular offer to the mainland will decrease by 5 % compared with last year, yet it will still be 29 % above 2019 levels.

“The post‑pandemic growth rate of seats was unsustainable in the long term and now a consolidation and stabilisation phase begins, with a 2 % drop in total air capacity this winter – a more reasonable trend.”
— Jéssica de León

In this context, de León highlighted that “there was an excess of air capacity to the Canary Islands that airlines have already started to correct.” She added that the new challenge is to boost destination spending, especially among small and medium‑sized Canary enterprises.

Tourism revenue and spending patterns

• Estimated tourism turnover for 2025: over €23 billion.
• Average spend per trip: €1,450.
• Leisure and experience‑based spending: only 4 % of total expenditure.

The mainland (peninsular) tourist profile

• Youngest segment in the market: average age 40 years (vs. 47 years overall).
• Average spend per trip: €878; daily spend: €152.
• Package‑tour uptake: 21 % (well below the 50 % average for all tourists).
• Booking preferences: 69 % purchase directly from airlines, 54 % from accommodation providers.
• Behaviour: spend more time outside the accommodation (average 9.8 hours per day), show strong interest in gastronomy (45 %) and local markets/museums.

“They are discoverer tourists, the youngest of all our segments, and strategic for improving destination spend.”
— Jéssica de León

Compared with British or German visitors—who mainly seek relaxation—Spanish mainland tourists are driven primarily by exploration (37 % of motivations). They also demonstrate high loyalty, with 69 % being repeat visitors and a 9/10 rating for their intention to return. Moreover, 21 % actively choose more sustainable travel options, even when it entails inconvenience.

Implications for the Canary Islands

• The correction of excess seat capacity should align supply with genuine demand, avoiding over‑tourism while preserving the 29 % surplus over pre‑pandemic levels.
• Targeting the youthful, independent mainland market could raise average spend, especially if tourism operators promote experiential and cultural offers that currently represent a small share of total revenue.
• Supporting SMEs in delivering authentic gastronomy, local crafts, and sustainable experiences may convert the high repeat‑visitor rate into higher per‑visitor spending.

These insights suggest that the Canary Islands are moving from a phase of rapid expansion to one of balanced growth, where quality of stay and destination spend become the primary drivers of future tourism strategy.