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Date Published: 05/05/2025

Corvera airport lowers passenger forecast by 35% up to 2043

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The revised expectations follow a slow recovery from the pandemic and increased operational costs

Corvera airport lowers passenger forecast by 35% up to 2043

The Region of Murcia International Airport, better known as Corvera Airport, has significantly lowered its long-term passenger forecast by 35%, adjusting its expectations after years of underperformance and a slow recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The updated forecast, released by airport operator Aena, anticipates that the airport will handle 39.9 million passengers over the course of its current concession period, which runs until 2043. This figure is substantially lower than the original projection of 61.4 million passengers set at the time of the concession’s approval.

Since opening in 2019, Corvera Airport has struggled to reach expected levels of activity and continues to trail behind the last figures reported at its predecessor, San Javier Airport.

Despite efforts to stimulate growth, the terminal is not expected to return to 2019 passenger levels until 2027. Aena estimates a 5.7% rise in passengers in 2026 compared to 2025, followed by a more significant 12% increase in 2027.

Aena attributes this trajectory partly to the high dependence on UK air traffic at the airport, noting that its recovery forecast aligns with broader industry predictions for the British travel market, as outlined by international organisations such as IATA.

Economic implications: Lower income and higher costs

Alongside the reduced traffic forecast, Aena has revised the financial outlook for the facility. The total projected revenue from 2019 to 2043 has been cut by €307.7 million, down to €525 million, representing a 37% decrease from initial expectations.

In contrast, operational expenses have surged by €73 million, primarily due to inflation. These cost increases are largely unaffected by passenger numbers, as a significant portion of expenses are fixed.

Recent financial figures highlight this strain. In 2024, Aena generated €14.8 million in revenue from Corvera Airport, slightly below the €15 million posted in 2023. The summer season, typically the airport’s busiest period, saw the sharpest downturn, falling from €5.2 million in summer 2023 to €4.6 million in 2024. The first quarter of 2024, however, showed improvement, with €2.3 million in revenue compared to €1.8 million the year before.

The 25-year concession agreement, granted in February 2018, stipulates that the airport’s infrastructure will revert to the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia in 2043, with no compensation due to Aena.

In the first quarter of 2025, Corvera Airport welcomed 97,968 passengers, marking a 6.5% increase year-on-year. Despite this growth, a later Easter negatively affected March figures, with a slight dip of 1.1% in passenger numbers for the month.

Looking ahead to the summer season, airport authorities are banking on new connections to boost traffic. The addition of a Marseille route stands out as the key novelty.

This summer, Corvera Airport will offer flights to five countries and connect with 18 international airports, as it aims to strengthen its position in the regional aviation market.