Fewer Winter Seats on Mallorca Flights for 2025/26 — What Travelers Need to Know

During the winter 2025/26, airlines in Spain plan a total increase in seats, while the Balearic Islands see a slight reduction in capacity. Here's what travelers and island residents should know.

Lower capacity on the Balearics, more capacity on the mainland

The big numbers sound contradictory: For the winter season 2025/26, airlines across Spain project around 139 million seats — about five percent more than last year. At the same time, the offer for the Balearics shrinks slightly, by about 1.5 percent. In short: more planes to the mainland, a bit less toward the islands. This becomes evident when you stand at 6:30 a.m. at the Palma airport access road (the C-712, yes, the junction) and look at the departures displays.

Why is that happening? There are several factors: airlines adjust their winter schedules, some routes run only seasonally, others are reduced. There is also a complex financial background issue: state compensation for locals — the so-called resident discounts — are not yet fully compensated according to industry sources. Overall, the sum that airlines are outstanding is in the high hundreds of millions. For operators and crews this is not a sideshow.

What that could mean specifically

For holidaymakers, the difference is often barely noticeable. In December and on bridge days there are usually enough connections left. But if you are flexible or looking for specific connections — for example direct flights from smaller German cities or Scandinavia — you should book early. On low-cost and short-haul providers, individual frequencies can be reduced, which extends connections times.

For locals and businesses on the island, the consequences are practical: fewer seats can mean higher prices on peak days, less choice for direct connections, and pressure on cargo capacity. Hoteliers, gastronomy and suppliers are watching this change closely. A friend who runs a restaurant in Portixol told me last week that she is already getting fewer spontaneous weekend bookings from short-break visitors.

How the situation might develop now

Market reactions are always possible: some airlines can offer additional flights if demand stays unexpectedly strong. At the same time, outstanding payments and economic decisions dampen the motivation to increase capacity in the long term. In practice: winter on the Balearics remains reachable, but not as oversupplied as in peak years.

My advice: If you are planning to go to Mallorca, Ibiza or Menorca in winter, look twice: compare prices, check alternative dates and prioritize direct connections. And yes — the drive to the C-712 is worth it again now: coffee, a view of the runway and a feel for how the island moves to the rhythm of the planes.