Why 30% of Flights in Spain Were Delayed in 2025, Per Flightright Data

Commercial aviation news from the end of 2025 indicates a significant decline in operational punctuality across Spain.

According to a year-end Flightright analysis, 30.28% of all flights in Spain were delayed in 2025. This figure marks a substantial increase from the 19.05% recorded in the previous year, 2024. The trend places Spain flight delays 2025 as a major operational challenge for airlines and a source of frustration for passengers.

The Punctuality Crisis in Spain and Europe

The 30.28% delay rate translates into 300,369 delayed flights, an increase of over 107,000 affected operations compared to 2024, according to the source. This decline in European air travel punctuality reflects a broader continental struggle.

European Delay Statistics

Spain is positioned in the middle of the European ranking for unpunctuality. Portugal led the continent with 41.57% of flights delayed. Ireland (40.32%) and Greece (38.36%) followed closely behind.

In contrast, the Nordic countries demonstrated the highest punctuality. Norway (20.20%), Sweden (23.66%), and Denmark (24.87%) recorded the lowest delay rates.

Cancellation Reliability

While delays soared, Spain slightly improved its flight cancellation rates, dropping from 0.31% in 2024 to 0.29% in 2025. Despite this technical gain, the country fell in the European reliability ranking.

Other markets achieved more significant reductions. Turkey (0.13%), Romania (0.14%), and Poland (0.24%) ranked as the most reliable countries for avoiding cancellations.

Airline and Airport Operational Reliability

Operational performance varied widely among Europe's major carriers and airport hubs.

Top Airlines by Cancellation Rate

Among the ten airlines with the highest flight volume, Ryanair recorded the lowest cancellation rate at 0.23%. Other strong performers included Austrian Airlines (0.50%) and easyJet (0.79%).

Conversely, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines posted the worst reliability figures with 2.30% of flights cancelled. Air France (1.40%) and British Airways (1.18%) also struggled with high cancellation rates.

Spanish Airport Efficiency

Spain's airport infrastructure proved efficient in managing flight volume. Two major Spanish hubs ranked among Europe's top five for reliability based on cancellation rates.

• Madrid-Barajas Airport recorded a low cancellation rate of 0.20%.
• Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport rounded out the top five with a 0.30% rate.

The Call for Stronger Air Passenger Rights

This uneven operational picture highlights persistent challenges in the sector. The rise in delays underscores the need for robust consumer protection.

Flightright legal expert Lucía Cegarra stressed the importance of passenger awareness. She noted that incidents remain commonplace in European air transport.

It is essential for passengers to know their air passenger rights under EC 261. This solid legal framework allows passengers to claim EC 261 compensation for unforeseen events like significant delays and cancellations. For more on this topic, see our latest flight operation news.

Addressing the root causes of delays, such as air traffic control capacity and staffing, remains a major focus for the industry. The data confirms that airline operational reliability is a key differentiator in a high-demand market.