easyJet forecasts 6.5% capacity increase in Spain in 2026 and announces Its first digital hub

EasyJet reinforces its commitment in Spain. The airline will increase its capacities in 2026 and plans to launch a digital hub. The airline closed fiscal year 2025 having carried 18.6 million passengers to and from Spain, a 7% increase compared with the previous year.

During a presentation, easyJet announced the creation of its first digital hub in Europe, to be based in Barcelona. The initiative reflects the airline’s growing focus on delivering a best-in-class digital experience for customers through the development of new digital products, and it significantly strengthens its ability to create new solutions by tapping into Barcelona’s deep talent pool.

With operations set to begin this year, the company is now launching a recruitment drive focused on product, engineering, artificial intelligence, and marketing roles to support this first development phase with a team of around 30 people.

With this new center, the company aims to create job opportunities focused on enhancing the digital solutions easyJet offers across its app, website, and other customer touchpoints used by more than 100 million customers to connect with thousands of destinations across Europe. The goal is to build a strong team of product, user experience, and software professionals.

Javier Gándara, easyJet’s general manager for Southern Europe and head of public policy, said: “The decision to locate our first digital hub in Europe in Barcelona is a clear sign of easyJet’s commitment to Spain and to the enormous talent available in the country. This new center will be key to accelerating our digital transformation and to further improving the passenger experience, incorporating capabilities in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and marketing. We will launch this operation in 2026 with the ambition of turning Barcelona into a benchmark within the company, fully trusting in the innovation ecosystem and the professionals who will make this project possible.”

EasyJet’s 2025 performance in Spain and 2026 outlook

As part of its presentation, easyJet also shared an overview of its operations in Spain and its outlook for 2026. In Spain, easyJet carried 18.6 million passengers to and from the country across 250 routes, representing a 7% increase compared with fiscal year 2024. Of the 250 routes, 23 were new connections operated during 2025.

Looking ahead to fiscal year 2026, easyJet plans to strengthen its presence in Spain, with capacity expected to reach 21.9 million seats—an increase of around 6.5% compared with 2025. By base, capacity will grow by 5% in Málaga and Palma de Mallorca, and by 3% in Barcelona and Alicante versus 2025.

As a network update, the airline has launched sales for two new routes for the summer 2026 season, improving connections between Spain and the United Kingdom. These include a new route linking Seville and Bristol, starting May 2 with two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and another connecting Tenerife South and Newcastle, operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

These new routes further expand the airline’s network, which has already seen the launch of 21 new routes this winter. Particular growth has been recorded in regions such as Gran Canaria and Barcelona, each benefiting from five new connections, as well as Seville, which added four new routes this winter.

Commenting on the outlook, Gándara added: “At easyJet, we continue to strengthen our commitment to Spain. This year we have increased capacity and added new winter routes that allow us to continue reducing seasonality in tourism, offering more travel options outside the traditionally busy months.

We are entering the new fiscal year with capacity approaching 22 million seats in Spain (+6.5% versus 2025) and a strong desire to keep connecting this highly strategic market with the rest of Europe, growing where our passengers ask us to.

Our commitment is clear: to continue being a relevant airline for the country, boosting connectivity, tourism, and the opportunities that come with it. Next year, with our 30th anniversary in Spain, there will be many opportunities to celebrate.”

2026: A Year Full of Key Milestones

In 2026, easyJet will mark several milestones that underscore its strong commitment to Spain and its role in European connectivity. The airline will celebrate 30 years of operations in the Spanish market. It will also mark the 10th anniversary of its year-round base in Barcelona and the fifth anniversary of its Málaga base, now firmly established as easyJet’s flagship base in southern Spain.

Since launching operations in Spain, easyJet has carried close to 265 million passengers to and from the country, steadily expanding to connect Spain with the rest of Europe through multiple routes, and operating its four current bases in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, and Alicante.