DREM releases transport statistics for the 1st quarter of 2026, alongside the publication "Transport Statistics of the Autonomous Region of Madeira – 2025"
The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) publishes today data for the first three months of 2026 covering the different modes of transport in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM), also including information relating to the full year of 2025.
Land transport – Rise in used vehicle acquisitions and decline in new vehicle purchases
According to data compiled by DREM, collective road transport by bus recorded, in the 1st quarter of 2026, a total of 6.8 million passengers (+4.1% compared to the same period of 2025). Urban lines carried 4.5 million passengers (+9.8%), while interurban lines accounted for 2.3 million passengers (-5.8%).
Between January and March 2026, approximately 85.7 thousand tickets were sold to users of the Region's cable cars (-73.0% compared to the 1st quarter of 2025), of which 88.3% were for adults, 7.3% for children, and the remaining 4.4% for other types of users (e.g. farmers, residents, students, etc.). In the same period, total revenue amounted to around 753.1 thousand euros, corresponding to a decrease of 82.0% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. It should be noted that during this reference period, most cable cars were closed for maintenance work.
The Registers of the Region recorded, in the 1st quarter of 2026, the transfer of ownership of 4 205 used motor vehicles, of which 86.8% were passenger cars and 12.3% light commercial vehicles. A further 33 cargo vehicles were also registered, accounting for approximately 0.8% of the total. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2025, the number of registrations increased by 169, representing a year-on-year rise of 4.2%.
According to information gathered by ACAP – the Portuguese Automobile Association – from the Institute of Registries and Notaries, in the 1st quarter of 2026, a total of 1 251 new vehicles were registered by residents of the ARM, representing a decrease of 15.5% compared to the same period of the previous year. It should be noted that this variable refers to vehicle acquisitions by entities resident in the ARM, including those made by car rental companies, and does not correspond to sales by automobile dealerships operating in the ARM.
Provisional data provided by the Regional Command of Madeira of the Public Security Police (PSP) show that, in the 1st quarter of 2026, 990 road accidents involving police intervention were recorded, representing an increase of 4.7% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Casualties totalled 364 persons (66 more than in the 1st quarter of 2025), of whom 335 were classified as slightly injured, 25 as seriously injured, and 4 as fatalities.
Electric vehicle acquisitions in the ARM increased by 33.8% in 2025
According to data collected by DREM from ACAP, in 2025, residents of the ARM purchased 1 340 fully electric cars, representing an increase of 71.8% compared to the previous year. Added to this figure are 1 734 diesel or gasoline plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (+14.2% compared to 2024). In total, the number of electric vehicle acquisitions reached 3 074 vehicles, a rise of 33.8% compared to 2024.
Air transport – Passenger movement at ARM airports exceeded 1 million again
ARM airports recorded passenger movement of around 1 187.4 thousand in the 1st quarter of 2026, representing a positive year-on-year change of 4.0%. Madeira Airport contributed to this growth with an increase of 3.6%, while Porto Santo Airport posted a more significant performance, with a rise of 16.1%.
In the quarter under review, aircraft occupancy at ARM airports stood at around 83.9%, with Madeira Airport reaching 84.2% and Porto Santo 75.9%. In the same period of the previous year, occupancy rates were lower, at 82.3%, 82.7%, and 72.7%, respectively.
Regarding air cargo, the ARM airports recorded growth of 0.8% in the 1st quarter of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year. Both airports saw an increase in unloaded goods, with a year-on-year change of +5.7%. In contrast, loaded goods recorded a significant decrease of 20.1%.
Maritime transport – Movement of goods at ports on the rise
In the maritime transport domain, 129 cruise ships entered ARM ports in the 1st quarter of 2026, 24 more than in the same period of the previous year. The number of transit passengers (324 224) also increased compared to the same quarter of 2025, with a positive change of 24.2%.
In the quarter under review, the Port of Funchal received 324 224 transit passengers, the vast majority (97.5%) of whom were European. The predominant nationalities were German (47.9% of the total; +24.1% compared to the same quarter of the previous year), British (28.4%; +2.0%), Italian (4.8%; +242.1%), Spanish (3.3%; +99.2%), Austrian (1.9%; +66.5%), Polish (1.6%; +108.0%), Dutch (1.3%; +48.0%), and French (1.1%; +68.0%). It should also be noted that passengers from the American continent in transit at the Port of Funchal (1.8% of the total) fell by 29.1% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The nationalities contributing most to this decline were American (1.2%; -28.9%) and Canadian (0.4% of the total; -35.3%).
On the Madeira–Porto Santo line, the number of passengers stood at around 38.5 thousand, an increase of 39.0% compared to the same quarter of 2025, growth to which the Easter calendar effect is likely to have contributed.
Overall movement of goods at ARM ports in this quarter was positive compared to the same period of the previous year (+5.6%). This change was driven by the increase recorded in unloaded goods (+6.5%), as loaded goods registered a decrease of 2.6%.
From January to March 2026, 214 recreational vessels entered the Region's marinas, representing a year-on-year decrease of 14.7%. These vessels carried 660 crew members and passengers, +8.0% compared to the same period of the previous year.
Final 2025 transport statistics data now available
DREM also publishes today the annual publication "Transport Statistics of the ARM – 2025", containing data on land, air, and maritime transport.
For more information, please visit: