Malaga Airport News Blog about Malaga Airport (AGP)

Suburban train at station Malaga Maria Zambrano

Users of the suburban train Malaga-Fuengirola will have to wait less to catch a train from next September 11. That day will start operating the new frequencies that will reduce the time of passage of current thirty minutes to twenty. This is possible thanks to the work of widening of tracks which culminated last January.

During Easter Renfe did a test with the new frequencies that worked perfectly and which had a great acceptance among travelers. This test will be repeated in August, coinciding with the celebration of the Fair in Malaga.

From September 11 onwards, the departures from Malaga and will be at ten, thirty and 50 minutes past the full hour, and from Fuengirola at the full hour, at twenty and forty minutes past the full hour.

The start and end of the service will continue as before, starting around 5:30 am and finishing at 10:30 pm.

The line joining the most popular towns on the Costa del Sol such as Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos with Malaga airport and Malaga city centre was used last year by more than eight million passengers. This improve is expected to bring an increase in the number of users, especially those with arrival or departure at Malaga airport, which in the first quarter of this year has grown by 41%.

Michelle Obama shopping in Marbella in 2010

One year after the arrival of Michelle Obama, wife of the U.S. President, to the Costa del Sol there is evidence that this visit has had a great response: In the first six months of the year, the arrival of tourists at Malaga airport from the United States has grown by over 31%.

This fact is even more important if one considers that in this period the Costa del Sol does not have a direct flight to New York, as Delta Airlines operates this connection only during the summer.

The U.S. is not the only market that has soared in the first half of the year. Russia, which provides tourists with high purchasing power and longer stays, has also focused on the tourist offer in Malaga. Here has a lot to do the fact that strategies are established to speed up expedition of visas, after which has grown a 63% the arrival of Russian travelers to the Costa del Sol.

Another country that is experiencing a strong increase in Malaga and which provides a high level client is Switzerland, from where are 40% more tourists.

The Nordic countries are a market that has not only recovered in recent years but which is at the forefront in terms of growth rate. Statistics of Malaga airport reveal that until May the arrival of Danish has increased by 25%; of Finnish by 30%; of Norwegians by 28% and of Swedish by 37%.

Data that join the pillars of the Costa del Sol abroad, which are the United Kingdom and Germany, which also respond well, with increases of 11 % and 21% respectively, according to the Tourist Board.

The increased transfer in the terminals of Malaga airport is a clear example that already has stared the first avalanche of tourists enjoying their summer holidays on the Costa del Sol. From yesterday until next Monday, Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aena) has programmed the landing and takeoff of 1,735 flights in the capital, with a total offer of more than 287,000 seats. Saturday will be the most intense day at the terminals in Malaga with 381 operations and nearly 64,000 passengers.

The increase of foreign visitors is based on the economic recovery of the main markets outside the Spanish borders and the fact that the riots in emerging destinations have diverted to the Spanish tourist areas a large number of visitors. The Costa del Sol has become an alternative destination for many British, German and French travelers who in the past spent their vacations in countries such as Tunisia or Egypt.

Malaga Airport broke its record in April regarding increased activity with an increase of almost 34% more passengers.

Malaga Airport is outstanding in April recording the highest growth in the decade and a significantly higher increase than the national average. This record regarding passenger arrivals, more than 1.2 million, which is almost 34%, certifies the renewed take off of the Costa del Sol.

The historical memory of this industry does not remember such a development in a month when the peak season has not started yet in Malaga. The figures speak for themselves, but has to be taken into account the impact of the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland, occurred in the second half of the same month last year.

Apart from this circumstance, the arrival of 1.2 million passengers on nearly 10,000 flights in April, a 16% more movements, suggests the recovery of air travel and the pull of the holiday destination Costa del Sol on the international arena. This number normally corresponds to flights registered in June at Malaga airport.

Malaga is the most popular destination for British travelers for Easter, followed by Tenerife and Alicante, according a survey of Skyscanner, indicating that Spain remains the most popular place this holiday for these tourists.

Thus, it indicates that the Spanish cities, especially those found near the sea, “have always been highly valued by British tourists.”

In fact the capital of the Costa del Sol already occupied the first position, Alicante is up three positions and Tenerife has advanced 21 positions, probably due to the protests in the Arab countries, some of which are usually popular sun destinations.

Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca also occupy prominent places in eighth and tenth place respectively.

This survey is based on flight searches for international departures from United Kingdom to travel during the Easter period.