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Málaga to Gran Canaria: flight delays and compensation

243,485 passengers travelled between Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) and Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) 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: Málaga–Gran Canaria is 1,410 km. A 3-hour-plus delay or a late cancellation is worth €250 per passenger from Málaga and €250 from Gran Canaria. 243,485 passengers used the route in 2024.

What you can claim on this route

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3 h+ delay / late cancellation
Málaga → Gran CanariaEU261any airline€250
Gran Canaria → MálagaEU261any airline€250

The amount depends only on distance (1,410 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 Málaga (AGP)

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, 91,027 flights arrived at AGP; 2,561 of them were held back this way, 968 by more than 15 minutes – an average of 0.48 minutes per arrival.

What caused the ATFM delay

  • ATC capacity39%
  • aerodrome capacity36%
  • weather19%
  • ATC staffing6%
  • accident/incident0%

Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)

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  5. M
  6. J
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  12. D

Worst days: 30 July 2025 – 5,275 minutes, mostly ATC capacity; 26 July 2025 – 1,669 minutes, mostly ATC staffing; 27 December 2025 – 1,445 minutes, mostly weather.

2026 so far (to 30 September 2026): 73,751 arrivals, 0.54 minutes of ATFM delay per arrival (worse than 2025), mainly ATC capacity (53%) and weather (25%).

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What this means for a claim: ATFM delays come from weather (19% here), air traffic control capacity and staffing (44%) 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 Gran Canaria (LPA)

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, 70,713 flights arrived at LPA; 4,108 of them were held back this way, 2,177 by more than 15 minutes – an average of 1.28 minutes per arrival.

What caused the ATFM delay

  • aerodrome capacity59%
  • special event22%
  • weather17%
  • airspace management1%
  • ATC capacity1%

Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)

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  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
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Worst days: 13 December 2025 – 8,990 minutes, mostly weather; 29 March 2025 – 6,470 minutes, mostly aerodrome capacity; 4 January 2025 – 3,998 minutes, mostly aerodrome capacity.

2026 so far (to 30 September 2026): 53,387 arrivals, 0.54 minutes of ATFM delay per arrival (better than 2025), mainly aerodrome capacity (64%) and weather (29%).

Check what happened at LPA on your travel day →

What this means for a claim: ATFM delays come from weather (17% here), air traffic control capacity and staffing (2%) 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 Málaga–Gran Canaria flight?

The great-circle distance is 1,410 km. From Málaga: €250 per passenger (EU261, any airline). From Gran Canaria: €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 Málaga–Gran Canaria 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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