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Date Published: 14/10/2024

The Corvera Airport September passenger stats are in: Numbers dip, but hope springs eternal

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Despite a slight September slump, Murcia’s international hub is still moving forward

The Corvera Airport September passenger stats are in: Numbers dip, but hope springs eternal

The passenger stats for the Region of Murcia International Airport (Corvera) are in, and depending on whether you’re a glass-half-full or half-empty type of person, there’s either a glimmer of hope or a faint sense of déjà vu in the air.

From January to September 2024, Corvera managed to shuffle 747,763 passengers through its gates – an increase of 2.3% compared to the same period in 2023. You could say it’s the good news we needed, but it’s not without a cloud or two hanging over it.

If you look a bit closer at the figures for September, there’s a slight dip that might cause the more pessimistic to sigh deeply. Passenger numbers fell by 1.9% compared to September 2023, with 109,389 travellers using the airport – a drop of 2,068 people.

And if you’re feeling nostalgic for pre-pandemic days, brace yourself: the figures are still lagging a rather depressing 16.2% behind the heady days of 2019.

See also: Yet another new lease of life for the old San Javier Airport?

Operations weren’t much to cheer about either. With 790 flights in September, down 1.1% from last year and a steeper 12% drop compared to 2019, it’s clear that Corvera is not exactly flying as high as it could be.

But far from Corvera being Murcia’s white elephant in a fluorescent vest, there are still plenty of reasons to remain cautiously optimistic.

The numbers for the first nine months of the year show overall growth. We’ve seen a 2.3% increase in passenger traffic compared to 2023, and while it’s not the kind of meteoric rise that’s going to get the champagne corks popping, it’s still progress.

International flights remain the lifeblood of the airport, with 650,547 passengers flying in from abroad, leaving domestic traffic – which clocked in at just 93,124 – looking like the underachieving sibling in comparison.

If you’re flying into or out of Corvera, chances are you’re heading to, or arriving from, foreign shores, with the UK continuing to dominate. Operations also saw a slight uptick over the year, with 5,608 flights handled so far in 2024, marking a 3.3% growth on last year.

So, while September’s figures don’t exactly scream “triumphant comeback”, Corvera Airport is still plugging away. Slow and steady wins the race, after all – or at least keeps the Region in the running.