Panic in Majorca as airlines slash flights to tourist hotspot this winter

Majorca's winter tourism industry is under threat (Image: Getty)

Fears over the state of Majorca's tourism industry are growing as new data has revealed a sharp reduction in the number of flights planned for this winter. The Spanish association for airline time slots, AECFA, has released figures for the upcoming low season, which indicate a 10.3% reduction in flights to and from Balearic airports and an 8.3% reduction in the total number of available seats.

The airlines' winter season runs from the start of November to the end of March. This year, there are 62,652 flights and 9.2 million seats - a significant decrease from the 69,845 flights and over 10 million seats available for the 2024/2025 season. After a mixed summer season with lower-than-expected occupancy rates and fewer German tourists, unfortunately for hospitality businesses reliant on the industry, there does not appear to be much relief on the horizon, particularly in Majorca.

Majorca's Palma airport is set to see the sharpest reductions, with 13% fewer flights (Image: Getty)

Palma Airport is set to see the sharpest reductions, with 13% fewer flights and a 9% reduction in seats, totalling around 6.9 million. Last year, there were 7.8 million seats available for visitors to Palma.

AECFA has yet to release details about the planned flight routes, but regardless, these reductions, particularly after previous low-season growth in the wake of the pandemic, threaten to undermine a core element of government tourism strategy.

The government has been hoping to improve low-season statistics to divert visitors away from the busy and often tense high season.

While the figures are subject to change, the Majorca Daily Bulletin highlighted that this would not be on a scale that would represent a significant recovery of the situation.

The government had been hoping to divert tourists away from the busy and often tense summer season (Image: Getty)

On Tuesday (September 16), Balearic President Marga Prohens responded to the findings from a government survey of public opinion about tourism, claiming that "we now have a season of 10 months, when before it was four months".

"We are seeing an increase in the low-season months, something which all political parties have sought for some years," she added. However, these AECFA figures suggest otherwise.

During the winter months, Majorca and its neighbours have relied on German and Spanish tourism for many years, as well as a smaller cut from the UK.

German tourism, which had been growing on average by 10% per month, went into sharp decline in May. This was repeated in June and July. There are now fears that the scheduled reductions for this coming winter may be a continuation of this downward trend.