Tendencias del mercado

🛩 European airlines' market share in the Europe-China corridor dropped from 55% in 2018 to 82% for Chinese airlines due to the inability to fly over Russian airspace, leading to longer, costlier flights. IAG, Lufthansa, and Air France-KLM struggle to compete on prices as a result. This winter, 18 new routes by Chinese carriers will be launched compared to a decline from European companies. Overall, a 15% capacity increase with 10,000 flights is expected between China and Europe. In Spain, Chinese airlines now hold 100% of the market since Iberia halted its Madrid-Shanghai route in 2020 due to Covid.

🛀 Turismo termal has gained popularity, appealing to travelers seeking relaxation and nature. Hosteltur, through Hanaley's online travel agency, highlights seven renowned thermal spas worldwide. These include Blue Lagoon in Iceland with temperatures up to 39°C, Terme di Saturnia in Tuscany at 37.5°C, Pamukkale in Turkey between 35-100°C, and multiple onsens in Japan known for their mineral-rich waters. Also featured are Aguas Termales de Polques in Bolivia at 30°C, Termas de Puritama in Chile between 28-33°C, and Arenal Volcano's thermal zone in Costa Rica with 25-39°C waters. These spas cater to all ages, breaking the stereotype of being only for the elderly.

💰 Spanish consumer spending in travel agencies slightly recovered in September and October with +1.9% and +1.1% annual increases, respectively. However, the trend indicates a slowdown in hotel spending, with annual variations showing April at -18% due to Easter timing, October at +3.5%, and the RevPAR in the U.S. growing at a vegetative rate of 2.5%-3%, which can signal future trends. CaixaBank's report on card expenditures details these fluctuations in the tourism sector.

💧 On November 13, 2024, adverse weather from DANA impacted Málaga, affecting the airport with numerous aborted landings, delays, and diversions. Flooding at the airport disrupted both internal and external access, and the AVE service between Málaga and Madrid was suspended due to water accumulation. Despite challenging conditions, pilots managed successful landings, as shown in a video by @controladores.

📍 Air Belgium, founded in 2016, is nearing collapse with losses over €119 million, largely due to selling ACMI services below cost. Wamos Air, with 13 Airbus A330s, leads in widebody wet lease segment and avoids price wars, focusing on premium services. Wamos Air increased its pilots and cabin crew by 30% this year, and invested millions in cabin upgrades, with some aircraft reaching $10 million per unit, serving airlines like Latam, Iberia, Avianca, Air New Zealand, and Etihad.

🏢 Meliá Hotels International improved its net result by 28.3% to €139.4 million up to September, with notable performance in Spain and globally in EMEA and Asia Pacific. Minor Hotels Europe & Americas increased its net profit by 46.3% to €141 million, with revenues of €1.789 billion, up from the previous year. An agreement was reached to raise the VAT for tourist apartment rentals to 21%, targeting luxury goods with a new tax. The Annual Congress of the Travel Agent by Hosteltur will take place online this Tuesday and Wednesday, featuring over 25 speakers on travel intermediation challenges.

🏖️ The Canary Islands government targets consolidating tourism as a key sector by 2025, with a focus on sustainability, digitalization, talent attraction, and training. Jéssica de León, head of the Tourism Department, outlined a €27 million promotional budget aimed at attracting responsible tourists. Overall, the tourism budget will increase by 2.53% to €244.27 million, including €5.3 million for Climate Action Plans, €582,000 for the Tourism Observatory, and €2.8 million for the Tourism Intelligence System. Infrastructural development will receive a 10.26% boost to €25.5 million, alongside €1.8 million for the Elder Museum of Science and Technology, and €1.5 million for accessibility projects in tourist municipalities. A new €1 million fund is set up for innovation and sustainability projects within infrastructure. The General Directorate for Planning, Training, and Tourism Promotion will have a budget of €54.6 million, up 9.21%.

🚨 In the Comunidad Valenciana, a recent DANA (weather event) has resulted in over 10,000 rental vehicles lost, impacting 92% of rental companies, mainly small and medium-sized businesses, risking their viability. Feneval estimates significant losses and urges for 100% compensation instead of the current 80%, and calls for expedited aid distribution and a financing line from the Insurance Compensation Consortium. They also extended solidarity to victims and gratitude to emergency services.

🏨 Meliá Hotels International led Spanish hotel chains in revenue from 2014 to 2020, while Riu Hotels & Resorts has been the top earner since 2022, exceeding its followers by over €600 million. The Barceló Hotel Group jumped to second place in 2017 after acquiring Crestline Hotels & Resorts and showed the least decline post-pandemic. The top five chains from 2020 include NH Hotel Group (now Minor Hotels Europe & America) and Eurostars Hotel Company. Among the 34 chains assessed, 10 exhibited three-digit growth from 2014 to 2023, with Grupo Hotusa leading at a 391% increase, followed by HM Hotels-Whala!Hotels (271%), and Magic Costa Blanca (225%).

❄ Tallin, Estonia, leads European snowy destinations with an average of 20.5 snow days per month, followed by Vilna, Lithuania (18.5 days), Erfurt, Germany (17.25 days), Turku, Finland (16.75 days), Helsinki, Finland (16.5 days), and Kiev, Ukraine, and Kaunas, Lithuania, tied with 16 days. Grenoble, France, Riga, Latvia, and Innsbruck, Austria, all average 15.5 snow days. Data was gathered from 2009 to 2021 for December through March by Holidu using worldweatheronline.com.