“This growth was widespread across both airports in the RAM [Autonomous Region of Madeira], with Madeira and Porto Santo recording year-on-year variations of +4.2% and +3.3%, respectively,” says DREM.

Data released on the regional statistics authority’s website indicate that aircraft occupancy at both airports was around 86.8%, with Madeira Airport reaching 87.4% and Porto Santo at 76.5%.

In the same period last year, occupancy rates were lower, at 83.2%, 83.9%, and 70.9%, in the same order.

The data for the first six months of 2024 for the different modes of transport in the autonomous region indicate an increase in three sectors – airports (+4.2%), buses (+19.8%), and cable cars (+6.2%) – and a decrease in the maritime transport sector between the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo (minus 5.9%).