MADRID (Reuters) - Airlines in Spain expect a strong winter season as they planned to have a seat supply almost 13% above pre-pandemic levels, the head of Spain's airlines industry group said on Thursday.
"The positive evolution of air traffic throughout this year, which already exceeds pre-pandemic figures, anticipates recovery in 2023 with the possibility of breaking the air traffic record," Javier Gandara, head of Spain's Airlines Association, said at a news conference.
Leisure travel has boomed since pandemic restrictions ended last year, despite a squeeze on household incomes from high inflation and rising interest rates.
"If we maintain this positive pace, we will surpass 2019 figures. Travelling is still high among people's priorities", said Gandara, easyJet (LON:EZJ)'s top executive in Spain.
Between April and September, the number of passengers at Spanish airports was 1.2% above 2019 levels, at around 163 million.
Despite a strong recovery led by travellers from cooler climates visiting Southern Europe, traffic to other European countries was still slightly below pre-pandemic levels.
Still, Gandara warned that geopolitical uncertainties, such as the fresh conflict in Israel and Palestinian territories, could lead to oil price increases, which will drive up the costs of fuel and flying and rein in travelling.