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Flights to Spain: delays, cancellations and your rights

By passengers on routes within Europe in Eurostat’s 2024 data, Spain’s busiest airports were Barcelona, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga and Alicante, with Gran Canaria and Tenerife South the busiest in the Canary Islands. Spanish airlines include Iberia and Iberia Express (hub Madrid), Vueling (Barcelona), Air Europa, Volotea and Binter Canarias. EU261 covers every departure from Spain, whatever the airline, and flights to Spain from outside the EU, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland when an airline licensed in one of those countries operates them.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: How we write our guides

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In short: Flying to Spain from elsewhere in Europe, a delay of 3 hours or more is worth €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes (EU261, any airline); from the UK £220–£350 under UK261. On the way home, EU261 covers every flight leaving Spain.

Your rights each way

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3h+ delay / late cancellation
Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → SpainEU261any airline€250–€400
Spain → another EU/EEA country or SwitzerlandEU261any airline€250–€400
UK → SpainUK261any airline£220–£350
Spain → UKEU261any airline€250–€400
Outside Europe → SpainEU261only an EU airlineby distance, up to €600

Amounts are per passenger and depend on the great-circle distance between your airports – the ranges cover the busiest routes. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are stuck overnight – where EU261 or UK261 applies. Living in Spain or flying from there? See how to claim in Spain.

Check your flight to or from Spain

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What happened?Step 1 of 4

What happened to your flight?
Where did you fly from and to?

With a connection, enter your first departure and your final destination – compensation is based on the total distance.

How late did you arrive at your final destination?

What counts is when the aircraft doors opened at your destination – not the departure delay.

When were you told about the cancellation?
When did you arrive on the replacement flight?
Which airline operated the flight?
When was the flight?

How many passengers were on the booking?

1 passenger

Every passenger gets their own compensation, children too. Infants under 2 without their own seat do not count.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Fee only if successful (35%)
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Rather skip the questions? Start a claim with AirHelp straight away

Airports in Spain

AirportPassengers 2024*ATFM delay per arrival 2025Main cause
Barcelona El Prat (BCN)47,084,1201.36 minweather (87%)
Madrid Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD)45,882,2990.45 minweather (53%)
Palma de Mallorca (PMI)31,694,4561.97 minweather (85%)
Málaga (AGP)23,213,3860.48 minATC capacity (39%)
Alicante (ALC)17,065,4660.15 minaerodrome capacity (76%)
Gran Canaria (LPA)13,474,6801.28 minaerodrome capacity (59%)
Tenerife South (TFS)12,358,3350.15 minATC capacity (73%)
Valencia (VLC)9,779,7210.00 minweather (100%)
Seville (SVQ)8,719,3010.08 minweather (69%)
Ibiza (IBZ)8,534,8180.28 minweather (63%)
Lanzarote (ACE)7,831,8610.99 minweather (82%)
Tenerife North (TFN)6,702,2130.25 minweather (58%)
Bilbao (BIO)6,252,5940.00 minATC capacity (75%)
Fuerteventura (FUE)5,755,9540.56 minweather (77%)
Menorca (MAH)3,752,7930.02 minweather (100%)
Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)3,590,7610.00 min–
Asturias (OVD)1,907,9110.00 min–
Girona (GRO)1,799,4730.00 min–
La Palma (SPC)1,358,5430.00 min–
A Coruña (LCG)1,206,8990.00 min–
Reus (REU)1,105,3701.60 minaerodrome capacity (97%)
Granada (GRX)1,098,4730.00 min–
Vigo (VGO)1,019,0850.00 min–
Santander (SDR)992,6420.00 min–
Jerez (XRY)850,4950.06 minATC capacity (44%)
Murcia (RMU)763,169––
Almería (LEI)665,9370.00 min–
Zaragoza (ZAZ)599,9100.00 min–
Melilla (MLN)485,7280.00 min–
Hondarribia (EAS)448,4900.00 min–

* Passengers on routes reported to Eurostat (both directions).

Routes from the UK to Spain

From the UK: Spain is the busiest foreign destination for flights from UK airports. In the CAA’s 2025 data the most-served Spanish airports from the UK were Alicante, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Madrid and Ibiza, with Tenerife South, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria the busiest in the Canary Islands. Flights departing from Spain are covered by EU261 whatever the airline; flights from the UK to Spain by UK261; flights from Spain to the UK by EU261.

Punctuality of the busiest routes in 2025, from UK Civil Aviation Authority data (departures from UK airports).

RouteFlightsOn time3h+ lateCancelled
London Heathrow – Madrid9,44278.7%0.19%0.79%
London Gatwick – Barcelona7,87273.2%0.47%0.94%
London Gatwick – Málaga7,63470.8%0.69%0.61%
London Heathrow – Barcelona6,92175.2%0.29%1.21%
London Gatwick – Alicante5,30269.2%0.38%0.08%
Manchester – Alicante5,21062.1%0.90%0.13%
Manchester – Tenerife4,88668.5%0.71%0.33%
London Gatwick – Palma de Mallorca4,37557.4%1.07%1.62%
Manchester – Palma de Mallorca4,13451.9%1.16%0.24%
London Gatwick – Tenerife3,96469.5%0.40%0.35%
London Gatwick – Madrid3,77282.5%0.11%0.29%
Manchester – Málaga3,45867.9%0.63%0.63%
Manchester – Barcelona3,41764.7%1.11%0.67%
London Gatwick – Seville3,07875.8%0.29%0.42%
Bristol – Alicante3,02778.1%0.73%0.16%
Manchester – Lanzarote2,98660.2%0.77%0.20%
London Stansted – Barcelona2,98463.6%0.64%0.13%
Bristol – Palma de Mallorca2,96964.2%0.70%0.84%
London Stansted – Alicante2,94069.9%0.61%0.00%
London Stansted – Tenerife2,87678.6%0.38%0.35%

Busiest European routes

Why flights to Spain are delayed

In 2025, air traffic flow restrictions held back arrivals at Spain’s airports by 0.70 minutes per flight on average (EUROCONTROL, 39 airports). The worst month was Oct. Air traffic control strikes affected arrivals on 121 days since 2024, most recently 29 September 2026.

Causes of air traffic flow delay (2025)

  • weather68%
  • aerodrome capacity14%
  • ATC capacity12%
  • special event3%
  • environmental issues2%
  • other1%

Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Weather and air traffic control restrictions are usually extraordinary circumstances – but the airline must show they caused your delay. Check what happened on your travel day.

Strikes

No strikes affecting flights in Spain are announced in our calendar at the moment.

Unions must give at least 10 days’ notice of strikes in public services (Royal Decree-Law 17/1977). For each air transport strike the Ministry of Transport sets minimum services (servicios mínimos) in a formal resolution, usually only a few days before, fixing the share of flights that must operate by type of route; airlines then choose which flights to keep. Island and long overland-alternative routes are the best protected: for the general strike of 11 November 2026, 56–85% of Balearic and Canary Islands flights had to operate, against 18–37% of short mainland routes.

Strikes in Spain · Strike calendar

Where to complain

  1. The airline first – in writing, with your booking reference. Use our complaint letter generator.
  2. National enforcement body: Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA), Passenger Rights Division – Complain to the airline first. AESA handles complaints about incidents in Spain through its online form; its email address is for information requests only..
  3. Dispute resolution: AESA is also an accredited alternative dispute resolution (ADR) body (accreditation published in the BOE on 10 May 2023). For incidents on flights from 2 June 2023 the procedure is free, you must have claimed from the airline first, and AESA’s decision is binding on the airline (not on you). If the airline does not comply, you can ask a court to enforce the decision.
  4. From the UK: if you flew from a UK airport or with a UK airline, you can also use UK ADR, the CAA or the small claims court.

Time limit: 5 years from the event that gave rise to the claim (Civil Code, art. 1964.2, as stated by the Community of Madrid’s consumer guidance). The Tribunal Supremo has not ruled specifically on EU261 claims.

Tips for flying to Spain

  • The Canary Islands are an outermost region of the EU, so flights from Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria or Fuerteventura are covered by EU261 exactly like flights from mainland Spain.
  • Flights between Spain and the UK, Ireland or the Benelux countries cross French airspace, so a French air traffic control strike can delay or cancel your flight even when nobody in Spain is on strike. During the French strike of 3–4 July 2025, Ryanair said most passengers on its 170 cancelled flights were only overflying France.
  • In EUROCONTROL’s 2025 data, Palma had the highest average arrival flow-control delay of Spain’s big airports, mostly weather-related, with its worst day on 11 October 2025. Weather-related delays are usually extraordinary circumstances, but care (meals, a hotel if needed) is still owed.
  • If AESA decides in your favour on a flight from 2 June 2023 onwards, the decision binds the airline – keep a copy, because it is what a court will enforce if the airline does not pay.

Frequently asked questions

Am I covered on a flight to Spain?

From anywhere in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: EU261 covers every departing flight, whatever the airline – €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes if you arrive 3 hours or more late. From the UK, UK261 covers every departing flight (£220–£350). From outside Europe you are covered only on an EU airline.

Am I covered on the flight home from Spain?

Spain applies EU261 to every departing flight, so you are covered with any airline (€250–€400 on typical routes).

Who enforces passenger rights in Spain?

Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA), Passenger Rights Division – Complain to the airline first. AESA handles complaints about incidents in Spain through its online form; its email address is for information requests only.. Complain to the airline first; if it rejects you or does not answer, you can turn to this body. All national enforcement bodies.

Are strikes covered?

It depends whose staff are on strike. Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances; strikes by the airline’s own staff are not (CJEU C-28/20). See strikes and compensation.

Data: Eurostat 2024, EUROCONTROL, UK Civil Aviation Authority 2025. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. National enforcement bodies under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (updated 13 October 2026) – European Commission
  2. Reclamaciones por cancelaciones, retrasos, denegaciones de embarque y PMR – AESA
  3. AESA accredited as an alternative dispute resolution entity (10 May 2023) – AESA
  4. Reclamaciones a compañías aéreas – plazo de cinco años – Comunidad de Madrid
  5. Código Civil (consolidated text), art. 1964 – BOE
  6. Real Decreto-ley 17/1977 sobre relaciones de trabajo (strike notice) – BOE
  7. Huelga y servicios mínimos – resoluciones (aviación civil) – Ministerio de Transportes
  8. El Gobierno decreta servicios mínimos de entre el 18% y el 85% para los vuelos durante la huelga general (9 November 2026) – elDiario.es
  9. Ryanair cancels 170 flights due to French ATC strike (3 July 2025) – Ryanair Holdings (SEC filing)
  10. Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, Article 349 (outermost regions: Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, French overseas regions) – EUR-Lex
  11. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text (Article 3: scope; recital 15: air traffic management decisions) – EUR-Lex
  12. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (UK261) – Article 3, scope – legislation.gov.uk
  13. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 (flights by destination from UK airports) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
  14. Airport arrival ATFM (flow-control) delay data, 2024–2025 – EUROCONTROL Aviation Intelligence Unit
  15. Air passenger transport by reporting airport (avia_par), 2024 – Eurostat
  16. Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
  17. EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
  18. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority

We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.