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Madrid Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas to Nice: flight delays and compensation

216,634 passengers travelled between Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) and Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) in 2024, according to Eurostat. Here is what a delay or cancellation on this route is worth in each direction, which rules apply, and how often the two airports are hit by air traffic restrictions.

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

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In short: Madrid–Nice is 957 km. A 3-hour-plus delay or a late cancellation is worth €250 per passenger from Madrid and €250 from Nice. 216,634 passengers used the route in 2024.

What you can claim on this route

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3 h+ delay / late cancellation
Madrid → NiceEU261any airline€250
Nice → MadridEU261any airline€250

The amount depends only on distance (957 km, measured as the great circle between the airports) – not on the ticket price – and is paid per passenger, children included. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide care (meals, drinks, a hotel overnight), and after a cancellation you choose between a refund or re-routing.

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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%)
  • AirHelp: Trustpilot 4.5/5

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Air traffic flow delays at Madrid (MAD)

EUROCONTROL records the delay imposed on arriving flights when the airport or the airspace around it cannot take more traffic (air traffic flow management, “ATFM”). In 2025, 215,420 flights arrived at MAD; 6,073 of them were held back this way, 2,264 by more than 15 minutes – an average of 0.45 minutes per arrival.

What caused the ATFM delay

  • weather53%
  • ATC capacity28%
  • aerodrome capacity12%
  • special event3%
  • other3%
  • environmental issues0%

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

Worst days: 11 June 2025 – 4,547 minutes, mostly weather; 4 January 2025 – 4,228 minutes, mostly weather; 5 May 2025 – 4,187 minutes, mostly weather.

2026 so far (to 30 September 2026): 170,154 arrivals, 0.35 minutes of ATFM delay per arrival (better than 2025), mainly weather (69%) and ATC capacity (14%).

Check what happened at MAD on your travel day →

What this means for a claim: ATFM delays come from weather (53% here), air traffic control capacity and staffing (28%) or airport limits – causes airlines often cite as extraordinary circumstances. They are only part of the story: most long delays come from the airline’s own operation (technical faults, crew, late inbound aircraft), which this data does not show. Source: EUROCONTROL.

Air traffic flow delays at Nice (NCE)

EUROCONTROL records the delay imposed on arriving flights when the airport or the airspace around it cannot take more traffic (air traffic flow management, “ATFM”). In 2025, 76,083 flights arrived at NCE; 11,809 of them were held back this way, 7,126 by more than 15 minutes – an average of 4.12 minutes per arrival.

What caused the ATFM delay

  • ATC capacity74%
  • weather14%
  • ATC staffing10%
  • aerodrome capacity2%
  • industrial action (ATC)1%
  • other0%

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

Worst days: 25 September 2025 – 11,299 minutes, mostly ATC capacity; 1 September 2025 – 10,134 minutes, mostly weather; 26 September 2025 – 9,685 minutes, mostly ATC capacity.

2026 so far (to 30 September 2026): 62,018 arrivals, 2.84 minutes of ATFM delay per arrival (better than 2025), mainly ATC capacity (89%) and weather (5%).

Air traffic control strike days recorded for NCE since 2024: 5 December 2024 (644 min); 3 July 2025 (1,367 min); 4 July 2025 (120 min).

Check what happened at NCE on your travel day →

What this means for a claim: ATFM delays come from weather (14% here), air traffic control capacity and staffing (84%), ATC strikes (1%) or airport limits – causes airlines often cite as extraordinary circumstances. They are only part of the story: most long delays come from the airline’s own operation (technical faults, crew, late inbound aircraft), which this data does not show. Source: EUROCONTROL.

Other routes from these airports

Frequently asked questions

How much compensation for a delayed Madrid–Nice flight?

The great-circle distance is 957 km. From Madrid: €250 per passenger (EU261, any airline). From Nice: €250 per passenger (EU261, any airline). The delay at your final destination must be 3 hours or more, and the airline must not be able to prove extraordinary circumstances.

Is a Madrid–Nice flight covered if the airline is not European?

Yes. Both airports apply EU261 (or UK261) to every departing flight, so the airline’s nationality does not matter in either direction.

What if the flight was cancelled?

You can choose a refund or re-routing, get care while you wait, and – unless you were told at least 14 days before departure or the airline proves extraordinary circumstances – fixed compensation. Cancelled flight compensation.

Passenger numbers: Eurostat 2024 (passengers carried between the two airports, both directions). Delay data: EUROCONTROL. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
  2. EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
  3. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – EUR-Lex

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