Palma de Mallorca Airport concluded 2024 with a record 33,298,164 passengers, marking a 7 per cent increase compared to 2023.

These figures, just released by Aena, confirm that it has been the busiest year in the airport’s history.

Of the total number of commercial passengers, 9,058,246 flew on domestic routes, a 5 per cent rise, while 24,225,720 travelled on international flights, an increase of 7.8 per cent.

In terms of operations, the airport handled 243,200 flights, up by 6.2 per cent from 2023, setting a new record for aircraft movements.

Passenger Records set in December at Palma de Mallorca Airport

In December 2024, Palma de Mallorca Airport saw 1,082,512 passengers, a 4.2 per cent increase over the same month in 2023. The airport managed 9,573 flights, representing a 2.8 per cent growth.

Of the passengers in December, 656,123 were domestic travellers (+1.1 per cent), while 426,254 were international passengers (+9.4 per cent).

The Aena Group, which operates 46 airports and two heliports in Spain, as well as London-Luton Airport and 17 airports in Brazil, closed 2024 with a total of 369,444,029 passengers, an 8.5 per cent increase from 2023. The group managed 3,203,747 aircraft movements, a 7.1 per cent rise, and handled 1,421,640 tonnes of cargo, an 18.1 per cent increase.

In December 2024, Aena Group airports processed 26,925,911 passengers, up by 7.2 per cent from the previous year.

Rafael Nadal and hotel entrepreneur Abel Matutes Prats have partnered up to develop two large luxury residential projects on the Costa del Sol. 

The Junta de Andalucía has just approved one, the licence for the urban development in the Los Llanos sector, in Estepona, for its attention to environmental sustainability. This approval suggests that the Estepona council plans to approve the development in its next Plenary, scheduled for January.

The initiative includes Palya Invest, based in the Balearic Islands, which owns Palya Casa del Mar, whose board includes Abel Matutes Prats and Sebastián Nadal Homar, Rafa Nadal‘s dad. The project aims to reduce the area of construction for better urban management. The road leading to the project includes a design to create better access to the beach for everyone.

The new remodelled concept is to construct detached homes and semi-detached houses reducing considerably the footprint of each construction, which is estimated to be some 50 houses with 3 floors, and adding many more trees as well as maintaining as many existing ones as possible.

The Los Llanos plot was purchased by Mabel Casa for about €20 million at the end of 2019, making it one of the last virgin real estate developments by the sea on the Costa del Sol.

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The Region of Murcia finished 2024 on a high note, achieving its lowest unemployment figures since 2007.

December saw a reduction of 1,087 jobseekers, bringing the total number of unemployed to 78,956. This marks a 5.87 per cent drop compared to the previous year, reflecting a strong and steadily improving job market.

December brings positive results

In the final month of 2024, unemployment decreased by 1.36 per cent from November’s figures. The services and agriculture sectors were the biggest contributors to this decline, with significant reductions in jobless numbers. On the other hand, the construction and industrial sectors experienced slight increases in unemployment, highlighting areas where more targeted strategies may be needed.

Consistent growth over four years

This marks the fourth consecutive year of declining unemployment in Murcia. The current figure is the lowest recorded since 2007, showcasing a robust recovery and resilience in the region’s labor market. Murcia’s performance also continues to outpace the national average, demonstrating a dynamic and forward-moving economy.

Regional government efforts pay off

The regional government’s initiatives to stimulate job creation have been instrumental in this progress. Programs aimed at supporting women, young people, and first-time job seekers have driven much of the positive change. The emphasis on these groups not only broadens economic participation but also strengthens long-term employment stability.

Challenges and opportunities ahead

Despite overall progress, there was a slight uptick in temporary contracts, pointing to ongoing challenges in achieving fully secure employment for all. However, Murcia’s labor market remains resilient, and the outlook for 2025 is optimistic. Continued efforts to balance growth across all sectors will be key to maintaining momentum.

With strong foundations and clear growth strategies, Murcia is poised for another year of opportunity, further enhancing its reputation as a region of economic vitality and resilience.

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