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Corvera passenger numbers up 35% but still chasing San Javier's best-ever figures
International routes are driving real growth but Corvera still has some catching up to do
The official figures are in and there’s genuine cause for optimism at the Region of Murcia International Airport. Corvera handled 131,956 passengers in the first three months of 2026, a 34.7% rise on the same period last year, and according to the Regional Ministry of Tourism, it represents "a clear acceleration in air connectivity."
International routes are doing much of the heavy lifting and they're increasingly being seen as a key driver of tourism for the Region of Murcia as a whole.
The airport recorded 1,358 flight operations in the first quarter, up 28.6% year on year, with connections now running to seven countries and around 20 European airports, not counting charter flights from tour operators.
That said, some context is important here. Corvera's current numbers still fall well short of what San Javier Airport was achieving at its peak. In the first quarter of 2007, San Javier handled 357,303 passengers and 4,066 operations, roughly double what Corvera is putting up today.
Even in 2018, San Javier's final year of operation before Corvera opened in January 2019, the airport welcomed 151,423 passengers in the same period, which is actually more than Corvera managed this year. It underlines just how much ground there is still to cover, and why regional authorities are keen to push growth harder and faster to make the infrastructure financially viable.
The UK is still the single biggest international market. Flights currently run to London Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, as well as Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Glasgow and the East Midlands, with Ryanair the dominant operator on those routes.
Aside from the UK, France is showing strong growth and the Netherlands has recorded one of the biggest percentage increases of any market, up 47.8%. Belgium is consolidating well, Germany is holding steady, and both Italy and Ireland, served via Dublin, are growing at pace. A new route to Nador in Morocco is also worth flagging as an emerging connection.
On domestic routes, the Madrid service has closed, but flights to Barcelona, Tenerife and Gran Canaria are continuing to perform well.
The regional government says it's actively working to identify the most promising emerging markets and is investing in international advertising campaigns to raise awareness of Murcia as a destination and attract new airline interest. Throughout 2026, more than €3.5 million is being committed to marketing and promotional activity in key national and international markets.
Ongoing negotiations with airlines are also a priority, with the aim of creating the right conditions for carriers to consider adding new routes to Corvera.
Image: Murcia Airport Travel
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