Palma, Alicante and Malaga Named as Spanish Airports Most Exposed to Summer Travel Disruption

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Travel expert warns British holidaymakers flying to Spain could face a “double pressure point” from ongoing air traffic control strike disruption and new EU border checks

British holidaymakers heading to Spain this summer are being urged to check their routes carefully, as travel experts warn the country could become one of the biggest pressure points for flight disruption during the May half-term and early summer getaway.

The warning follows ongoing strike action involving air traffic controllers at SAERCO-managed towers in Spain, which began on 17 April and has affected a number of regional Spanish airports, including Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Seville, Jerez, Vigo, A Coruña and La Palma.

While major holiday airports such as Palma, Alicante and Malaga are not among the SAERCO towers directly affected by the strike, travel experts say they could still be among the airports most exposed to knock-on disruption because of the sheer volume of UK leisure traffic travelling through them.

According to travel expert Jürgen Himmelmann, co-founder of Global Work & Travel and DealsAway, Spain-bound travellers should not assume that disruption only matters if their exact airport is listed as strike-affected.

He explains:

“The risk for British travellers is not just whether their airport is directly named in the strike action. It is whether the wider Spanish network is under pressure at the same time they are travelling.

“Palma, Alicante and Malaga are three of the airports I would be watching closely this summer, not because their towers are necessarily part of the SAERCO strike, but because they are major gateways for UK holidaymakers. When you combine high passenger volumes, tight turnaround times, air traffic control disruption elsewhere and new border checks, these are the kinds of airports where problems can escalate quickly.

“Spain is still one of the most popular destinations for British travellers, but that also means disruption is felt at scale. A delay that starts at a smaller regional airport can have a knock-on effect on aircraft rotations, crew hours and later departures, especially during peak travel weeks.”

The warning comes as British travellers are already facing added pressure from the EU’s Entry/Exit System, with reports of longer queues and missed flights at some European airports since the full implementation period began in April 2026.

Spain has also faced pressure over how it is handling new border controls, with reports of long queues affecting UK passengers at Spanish airports, while some other European countries have moved to ease EES checks during busy periods.

• Palma de Mallorca - One of the busiest leisure gateways for UK families, couples and package holidaymakers, especially around school holidays

• Alicante - A major route for Costa Blanca holidays, second homes and visiting friends and relatives-

• Malaga The main entry point for the Costa del Sol, with high UK demand and heavy summer flight schedules-

• Lanzarote and Fuerteventura - Directly linked to the strike disruption risk and heavily used by British holidaymakers

• Seville and Jerez More relevant for city breaks, Andalusia trips and travellers using alternative regional routes-

Jürgen adds:

“For most travellers, the biggest mistake is waiting until the airport to find out there is a problem. If you are flying to Spain this summer, especially with children or on a tight package holiday schedule, you need to treat your flight as something to actively monitor in the days before departure.

“Check whether your aircraft is arriving from another Spanish airport, look at your airline app before you leave home, and give yourself more time than you normally would at both ends of the journey.”

What travellers should do if they are flying to Spain this summer

Jürgen recommends that British holidaymakers:

Check the airline app before leaving for the airport

Do not rely only on emails or text alerts. Airline apps are often updated first.

Look at where your inbound aircraft is coming from

A flight from Manchester to Malaga may be affected if the aircraft has already been delayed elsewhere.

Allow extra time for passport control on the return journey

New EU border checks can make queues less predictable, especially for families and first-time EES registrations.

Avoid very tight connections

Travellers using Spain as part of a wider European itinerary should build in extra time.

Keep receipts if delayed

If your flight is significantly delayed, airlines may still have a duty of care, including food, drink or accommodation, depending on the circumstances.

Check travel insurance wording before you fly

Not all policies treat strike disruption in the same way, especially where the strike was known before the policy or trip was booked.

Jürgen says:

“The key thing is not to panic, but not to be passive either. Most Spanish holidays will still go ahead as planned, but travellers who know the risk points are in a much stronger position if something changes.

“The people most exposed are those travelling during school holiday peaks, those with young children, those with onward travel booked the same day, and those who have not left any buffer in their plans.”

Why this matters for half-term and summer travel

Spain remains one of the UK’s most important outbound holiday destinations, with the Balearics, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Canary Islands all seeing heavy demand during May, June and July.

Jürgen says the concern is not a single issue, but the combination of pressures.

“One strike notice does not automatically ruin a holiday. One long queue does not automatically cause mass disruption. But when several small pressures happen at the same time, during peak travel weeks, that is when passengers start to feel it.

“For British travellers, Spain is not a niche route. It is one of the main summer holiday corridors. That is why even limited disruption can become a much bigger consumer story very quickly.”

ENDS

Travel expert Jürgen Himmelmann is co-founder of Global Work & Travel and DealsAway.

The SAERCO strike began on 17 April 2026 and has been reported as affecting a number of regional Spanish airports, rather than major hubs such as Palma, Alicante and Malaga.