US-Spain Air Travel Booms with 16% Increase in Flights

The transatlantic air travel market between Spain and the United States has experienced remarkable growth in the past year. According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, a total of 1,724 flights are scheduled for December 2025, marking a 16% increase from 1,486 flights in December 2024. This surge in flights is accompanied by a 14.9% rise in seat capacity, highlighting the growing demand for travel between the two nations.

Iberia Leads the Charge

Spanish flag carrier Iberia dominates the market with the highest number of flights and available seats. This December, the airline is set to operate 732 flights offering 205,592 seats, which represents significant increases of 32.6% and 25.9%, respectively, compared to last year. The most popular route remains the one connecting Madrid (MAD) and New York (JFK), with two daily round trips.

Iberia also services several other key destinations, including San Juan in Puerto Rico with 48 rotations, Boston with 46 flights, and Miami with 44 flights. While the airline predominantly uses widebody aircraft from the Airbus A330 family, it has increased its use of the narrowbody A321XLR, accounting for 220 flights. Ramiro Sequeira, Iberia’s Chief Production Officer, stated, “The Airbus A321XLR has transformed our long-haul strategy, enabling us to open new destinations and increase frequencies with unprecedented efficiency.”

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines Expand Operations

Across the Atlantic, American Airlines holds a strong position in the market with 432 flights scheduled for December 2025, maintaining the same number as the previous year. However, the airline has increased its seat capacity by 5.7%, indicating a shift to larger aircraft or denser cabin configurations. American Airlines primarily operates widebody twinjets from Boeing’s 777 and 787 families, servicing routes including daily flights from Madrid to JFK and Charlotte (CLT), among others.

On the other hand, Delta Air Lines has recorded the largest annual growth in this market, with a 20.2% increase in flights from 213 in December 2024 to 256 this year. Delta’s operations include a mix of Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 767-400ER aircraft, with key routes such as Atlanta (ATL) to Barcelona and Madrid, both featuring daily round trips.

Other Key Players in the Market

United Airlines, another major US carrier, has scheduled 197 flights to Spain this December, reflecting an 8.8% increase compared to last year. The airline operates a mix of Boeing 767, 777, and 787 aircraft, connecting Newark (EWR) to Madrid and Barcelona, along with limited services from Washington (IAD) and Chicago (ORD).

Finally, Spanish carrier Air Europa is also part of the transatlantic connection, offering 107 flights this month. Although this marks a slight decrease from last year, with one less service, Air Europa primarily operates its flights with Boeing 787 aircraft and some routes serviced by Iberojet using Airbus A330-900s.

The increasing number of flights and enhanced seat capacity between the United States and Spain signals a robust demand for travel, paving the way for further expansion in this critical transatlantic corridor. As airlines continue to adjust their strategies and fleet compositions, travelers can look forward to more options and improved connectivity in the coming years.