One of Spain's busiest travel hubs is set for a huge expansion after the country's airport operator issued a warning that the airport is fast approaching its passenger capacity.
Malaga Airport, which is Spain's fourth-busiest and serves as the main international airport for the popular Costa del Sol, will see an eye-watering €1.5billion (£1.3billion) pumped into a project which will increase its annual capacity by several million by the start of the next decade.
Expansion Details
According to AENA president Maurici Lucena, the expansion will increase Malaga Airport's annual capacity from 30 million to 36 million passengers between 2027 and 2031. The announcement comes after Malaga recorded a sharp 6.7% rise in passenger numbers and a 4.5% increase in flights in June alone.
Mr Lucena said Spain was on course to become "the fifth or sixth country [in the world] for air traffic" by 2055, adding that major airport expansions would be needed nationwide to keep pace with demand, according to El Conciso.
Record Passenger Numbers
Malaga Airport handled a record-breaking 26.8 million passengers in 2025, a 7.4% increase over 2024 and allowed it to maintain its position as Spain's fourth-busiest airport, behind Palma de Mallorca, Madrid and Barcelona.
The new project is set to more than double the size of the security screening area and expand passport control facilities by a staggering 515%, according to Malaga Hoy.
Terminal and Infrastructure Upgrades
The terminal will also be expanded to accommodate the growing number of passengers, with the construction of a new wing dedicated to non-Schengen travellers, including those from the UK. Outside the terminal, plans also include improving road access to the airport and expanding parking facilities to cope with rising demand.
As the Andalusian region continues to attract record numbers of visitors, other Spanish airports, including Seville Airport, have also recently undergone expansion. AENA has budgeted for a major renovation of the hub, running from 2027 to 2031.
This will include a €235million (£200million) terminal and a €296million (£252million) subterranean rail link connecting the terminal directly to the Santa Justa train station. The terminal upgrade will focus heavily on passenger comfort, featuring fully renovated bathrooms, a new VIP lounge, and improved air conditioning.
Other Spanish Airport Investments
Elsewhere, Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is slated for a €1.2billion (£985million) upgrade, which will feature a brand-new non-Schengen terminal to ease biometric border queues, plus more boarding gates and car park, while Barcelona-El Prat Airport has a €2.8billion (2.4billion) investment plan to increase capacity and upgrade passenger-processing capabilities.
In total, Spain welcomed a record-breaking 96.8 million international tourists in 2025 - a 3.2% increase from the previous year. It trailed just behind France, which retained its position as the world's most visited country with a record 102 million international tourists.
