Lorraine Williamson
As Spain gears up for another busy travel season, fresh data reveals a worrying picture for summer holidaymakers hoping for smooth departures.
A new analysis from legal flight compensation platform Flightright shows that many airlines continue to struggle with punctuality—while others have become serial offenders when scrapping flights altogether.
Based on figures from summer 2024 and early 2025, the report highlights which carriers are most likely to ruin your travel plans—and why passenger rights may soon come under threat from proposed changes in EU law.
Which airlines cancelled the most flights in Spain?
Vueling tops the table for cancellations in Spain during the summer of 2024, axing 405 flights. Close behind were easyJet with 279 cancellations, and British Airways, which scrapped 139.
While British Airways didn’t cancel the most in absolute numbers, it performed worst in terms of percentage, cancelling nearly 4% of all scheduled flights from Spanish airports.
Delays: A persistent problem
When it comes to delays, Ryanair led the pack by a wide margin, racking up over 16,000 delayed flights last summer in Spain alone. Vueling followed with 8,644 delays, while easyJet had more than 7,300.
But, once again, it was British Airways that fared worst in proportional terms, with 46.26% of its flights running late. easyJet and Transavia weren’t far behind, with over 41% and 39% of flights respectively, delayed.
In contrast, some lesser-discussed carriers impressed with their reliability. SwiftAir, TUI Airways, and Volotea all posted strong on-time performance records, offering a glimmer of hope for those seeking stress-free summer travel.
Europe-wide woes in 2025: Finnair and TAP struggle
Zooming out to a continental view, the outlook remains grim for punctuality. So far in 2025, Finnair has emerged as Europe’s most cancellation-prone airline, with 3.35% of flights dropped. KLM and British Airways again made the top three.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s flag carrier TAP Air Portugal has developed a reputation for running late, with over 37% of its flights delayed this year.
Once again, Ryanair dominates the figures—this time across Europe—with a staggering 77,000+ delays so far in 2025, followed by easyJet and KLM.
On the bright side, ITA Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Iberia have all posted strong performances with minimal cancellations.
Why EU flyers may soon lose out
But there’s a deeper concern on the horizon. Flightright warns that proposed reforms to European passenger compensation rules could tip the scales in favour of airlines—at the expense of consumers.
Current discussions within the European Commission aim to raise the threshold for compensation eligibility and lower the amounts paid out—potentially leaving stranded passengers with fewer rights and little recourse.
Keep protections in place
Legal expert Lucia Cegarra from Flightright issued a stark warning: “We need rules that protect consumers, not disadvantage them.” She urged the European Parliament to reject the proposals and stand firm on passenger protections that have been hard-won over decades.
As summer 2025 takes off, the message for Spanish travellers is clear: check your airline’s track record before you book—and keep a close eye on developments in Brussels. The skies may be sunny, but your journey could still be turbulent.
Planning a flight this summer?
Before booking, consider not just the price but the reliability of your chosen airline. With disruption still widespread and passenger rights in flux, doing your research could make the difference between a relaxing getaway and a holiday from hell.
Source: Europapress.es