Spain aviation sector sees high summer traffic amid flight delays and overbooking

Spain's aviation sector experienced significant activity during the summer of 2026. Aena reported that its network of airports handled over 34.8 million passengers in August, a 4.7% increase compared to the previous year. Major hubs like Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat saw continued growth, while Palma de Mallorca also reached record levels with over 4.8 million passengers in August.

However, the high volume of travelers led to operational challenges. Data indicates that 26.6% of flights in Spain during the summer period faced delays or cancellations. This resulted in an estimated economic impact of 502.3 million euros for travelers due to unforeseen costs.

Additionally, overbooking became a prominent issue. Air Europa led the complaints for denied boarding, accounting for 21.2% of claims managed by Reclamador.es. Other airlines frequently cited for overbooking included easyJet, Brussels Airlines, and Etihad Airways, which together accounted for 68% of the total claims during the June-August period.