In a recent analysis by Flightright, a specialized platform advocating for air passenger rights, the airline punctuality and cancellation rates across the 20 countries with the highest flight volumes were scrutinized. The findings for Spain indicate a year characterized by a relative decrease in flight cancellations, but a significant uptick in delays, which has emerged as the primary concern for travelers.
Key Findings
During 2025, 30.28% of domestic flights experienced delays, up from 19.05% in 2024. This translates to 300,369 delayed flights, an increase of 107,143 compared to the previous year, marking a 55% rise. In the broader European context, Spain’s performance is mid-tier, with roughly one in three flights delayed.
In regard to cancellations, Spain marginally improved its rate with a figure of 0.29% (down from 0.31% in 2024). Despite this progress, Spain dropped from second to fifth place in the European ranking for lowest cancellation rates, as other nations reduced their figures more efficiently. The countries with the best rates included Turkey (0.13%), Romania (0.14%), and Poland (0.24%), while Finland (1.76%), the Netherlands (1.45%), and Belgium (1.21%) held the highest cancellation rates.
Flightright’s analysis notably identified two Spanish airports among the most reliable in Europe: Madrid-Barajas, with a cancellation rate of 0.20% (third place in the ranking), and Málaga-Costa del Sol, which came fifth with 0.30%. Conversely, Helsinki-Vantaa achieved the highest cancellation rates (1.87%), followed by Schiphol (1.50%), Brussels (1.27%), Nice (1.21%), and Heathrow (1.16%).
In terms of airlines operating the highest volume of flights in 2025, Ryanair stood out for the lowest cancellation rate (0.23%), followed by Austrian Airlines (0.50%), easyJet (0.79%), Vueling (0.81%), and Scandinavian Airlines (0.82%). The airlines with the most significant problems included KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (2.30%), Air France (1.40%), British Airways (1.18%), Swiss International (0.97%), and Lufthansa (0.85%).
The 2025 data reveal a mixed evolution in European air traffic: while some countries are making strides to decrease cancellations, delays remain a widespread challenge. Flightright emphasizes the importance of safeguarding passenger rights and establishing robust legal frameworks to support claims in the event of disruptions.
Key Statement
Lucía Cegarra from Flightright encapsulates the main message: “The data indicates that despite progress in certain markets, incidents remain commonplace in European air travel. It is essential for passengers to be aware of their rights and have a solid legal framework to pursue claims when issues arise.”
The year 2025 has highlighted for the tourism sector that the travel experience begins long before reaching the destination: punctuality and reliability of connections play a direct role in traveler satisfaction, stay planning, and the economics of destinations. Although Spain holds a competitive position regarding cancellation rates and boasts resilient airports, authorities and airlines should focus on reducing delays, the most visible challenge for travelers in 2025.
