Ibiza Airport is approaching a significant milestone in passenger traffic, with annual numbers having more than doubled over the past two decades. The airport handled approximately 9.14 million passengers in 2025, representing growth of around 119% compared with 2004, while Spain's latest airport planning document forecasts that traffic could reach 9.72 million passengers by 2031.
The figures form part of the new Airport Regulation Document for 2027–2031 (DORA), approved by the Spanish Government and published in September 2026. The document includes an annual passenger forecast of 9,718,800 for Ibiza Airport in 2031 and lists its annual reference capacity at 10 million passengers.
The projections bring the airport close to that reference figure and add another dimension to the ongoing discussion about tourism growth, transport infrastructure and the island's ability to accommodate increasing visitor numbers.
Ibiza Airport Passenger Numbers Have Grown by 119% Since 2004
According to historical airport traffic figures cited in the latest reporting, Ibiza Airport handled 4,171,580 passengers in 2004. By 2025, that figure had risen to 9,138,347.
This represents an increase of 4,966,767 passengers a year, or approximately 119.1% over 21 years.
Aircraft movements have also increased, although at a slower rate. The airport recorded 48,798 movements in 2004, compared with 85,088 in 2025. These figures include both take-offs and landings and represent an increase of approximately 74.4%.
The difference between passenger growth and aircraft movements suggests that the airport has been handling substantially more passengers without an equivalent increase in the number of aircraft movements. Larger aircraft and higher passenger occupancy may help explain this trend, although the figures alone do not establish the contribution of each factor.
Aena's current airport information also confirms the 2025 total of 9,138,347 passengers and 85,088 aircraft movements.
Aena Forecasts Almost 9.72 Million Passengers by 2031
The most significant forward-looking figures appear in DORA 2027–2031, Spain's regulatory framework for the Aena airport network.
The document was approved by the Council of Ministers on 15 September 2026 and published in the Official State Gazette on 19 September. It sets out traffic forecasts, capacity standards, investment planning and service requirements for the five-year period beginning in January 2027.
For Ibiza Airport, the passenger forecasts are:
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2027: 9,173,500 passengers.
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2031: 9,718,800 passengers.
The 2031 forecast represents an additional 580,453 passengers compared with the 2025 figure, equivalent to approximately 6.4% growth.
The projection is a planning forecast rather than a guarantee of future passenger numbers. The DORA document itself acknowledges that actual traffic may differ depending on economic, geopolitical, regulatory, technological, environmental and market conditions.
The Airport's Annual Reference Capacity Is 10 Million Passengers
Alongside its traffic forecasts, the DORA document lists Ibiza Airport's annual reference capacity at 10 million passengers.
If the 2031 forecast is achieved, the airport would handle approximately 97.2% of that figure, leaving a difference of 281,200 passengers.
For comparison, the 9,138,347 passengers recorded in 2025 already represented approximately 91.4% of the 10-million reference capacity.
However, the distinction between a capacity reference and a strict maximum is important. The document describes airport capacity figures as indicative reference values, which may be adjusted upwards depending on operational flexibility.
The 10-million figure should therefore not be interpreted as a legally fixed ceiling beyond which the airport cannot operate. Nor does the forecast itself constitute approval for a major airport expansion.
The DORA also considers capacity across different airport infrastructure components, including the runway system, aircraft parking apron, passenger terminal and cargo terminal.
The Impact of the Pandemic on Airport Traffic
The airport's long-term growth has not been uninterrupted.
Passenger numbers reached 8,155,626 in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic collapse in air travel. In 2020, traffic fell by approximately 74.1%, to 2,110,348 passengers.
The following year brought a strong percentage rebound as travel restrictions eased, although the increase was measured against the exceptionally low levels of 2020.
By 2022, Ibiza Airport had returned to approximately 8.16 million passengers, slightly exceeding its 2019 total. Growth continued over the following years, with the airport surpassing nine million passengers annually.
Aena's 2025 figures confirm that the airport recorded another annual passenger record.
What the Figures Mean for Ibiza and Formentera
Ibiza Airport is particularly important because it serves both Ibiza and Formentera. According to Aena, approximately 95% of people travelling to and from the two islands use the airport.
Its traffic is strongly seasonal, with a significant concentration of demand during the summer months. The airport also handles substantial domestic traffic, particularly connections with Barcelona, Madrid and Palma de Mallorca.
This means that passenger growth is not simply a measure of international tourism. The airport figures include people travelling for different reasons, including residents, workers, business travellers and visitors, as well as passengers using domestic and international connections.
As passenger numbers continue to rise, questions about airport capacity, service quality, seasonal pressure and the wider consequences of tourism growth remain important issues for the islands.
A Key Period Ahead for Ibiza Airport
The 2027–2031 regulatory period will provide the framework for how Aena plans and manages its airport network over the coming years.
For Ibiza, the official forecast points towards almost 9.72 million passengers by 2031, bringing annual traffic close to the airport's 10-million reference capacity.
Whether the projection is reached will depend on how air travel demand develops and how the airport's infrastructure responds.
What is already clear from the historical figures is the scale of the transformation: Ibiza Airport handled more than twice as many passengers in 2025 as it did in 2004. The next five years will be an important period for understanding how that growth can be accommodated while maintaining the quality and efficiency of the island's main transport connection.