Spain — Flight Compensation Rights
EC261 in Spain — passenger rights at MAD, BCN, and all Spanish airports
Spain is one of Europe's top aviation hubs with over 280 million passengers handled annually. If your flight departed a Spanish airport — or you flew into Spain on an EU carrier — you have full EC261 rights. Spain's AESA authority accepts direct complaints and has a track record of ruling in passengers' favour.
Maximum compensation
€600
per passenger, per flight
Compensation amounts in Spain
EC261 applies to all flights departing Spanish airports and to flights arriving into Spain on EU/EEA-licensed carriers. Spain's national enforcement authority, AESA, handles individual passenger complaints as well as regulatory oversight. Spain is notable for the AESA complaints process — a free formal pathway that can result in binding decisions — and for the Vueling/Iberia liability defence tactics that claimants commonly face.
Tier 1
Up to 1,500 km
Short-haul
€250
Tier 2
1,500–3,500 km
Medium-haul
€400
Tier 3
Over 3,500 km
Long-haul
€600
Claim time limit: 3 years
Spanish civil law provides a 3-year limitation period under Ley 48/1960 (Air Navigation Law) and the Spanish Civil Code. The clock runs from the date of the disruption. This aligns with Germany's limit but is shorter than France (5 years) or the UK (6 years).
Who enforces your rights in Spain
National enforcement authority
Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA)
Unlike most EU enforcement bodies, AESA accepts individual passenger complaints directly and can issue a formal resolution determining whether compensation is owed. While AESA decisions are not always immediately enforceable, they carry significant weight in Spanish court proceedings and many airlines pay when an AESA decision goes against them.
Key airports in Spain
All flights departing these airports are covered by EC261.
Airlines covered in Spain
These carriers operate EC261-covered flights from Spain's airports.
What makes Spain different
Country-specific legal nuances that affect how you claim.
AESA accepts individual complaints directly
Unlike most EU enforcement bodies, AESA will investigate your specific claim and issue a formal resolution. File at reclamaciones.seguridadaerea.gob.es — attach your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and correspondence. AESA processes claims in 3–6 months and its decisions carry weight in subsequent court proceedings.
Vueling and the AESA redirect tactic
Vueling frequently responds to initial claims by directing passengers to file with AESA rather than dealing directly. This is actually a valid route in Spain — AESA does handle individual claims — but Vueling uses it as a delay tactic. File with AESA promptly if Vueling directs you there, and track your case number.
Iberia–Vueling codeshare liability
Iberia and Vueling are both part of IAG. If your ticket was sold as an Iberia flight but operated by Vueling (or vice versa), the operating carrier is liable — not the marketing carrier. AESA and Spanish courts have consistently upheld this. Don't let the airline redirect you to a sibling carrier.
Spanish consumer courts (Juzgados)
For claims up to €2,000, Spanish small claims procedures are relatively straightforward. For larger EC261 claims, the Juzgado de Primera Instancia has jurisdiction. Filing fees are proportionate to claim size. Many airlines (including Ryanair) settle before a Spanish hearing, making court filing a credible threat.
How to claim in Spain
Spanish EC261 claims benefit from AESA's direct complaint handling. This is one of Europe's most passenger-friendly enforcement pathways. Start with the airline, escalate to AESA, and use Spanish courts as the final backstop.
Submit your claim
Tell us your flight details and we'll assess your entitlement under EC261 — no upfront cost.
Escalate if needed
File a complaint with AESA at reclamaciones.seguridadaerea.gob.es — this is free, formally investigated, and carries legal weight. Alternatively, if your airline has an ADR scheme, use that. AESA resolution typically takes 3–6 months; if they rule in your favour, the airline is under strong pressure to pay.
Receive your compensation
If AESA rules in your favour and the airline still doesn't pay, their decision is admissible as evidence in Spanish court proceedings. File in the Juzgado de Primera Instancia with jurisdiction over the airline's Spanish registered office.
Frequently asked questions — Spain
Can I file an AESA complaint if I'm not Spanish?
Yes. AESA has jurisdiction over any flight departing a Spanish airport, regardless of where the passenger lives. The complaint portal is available in Spanish and English.
Vueling told me to contact AESA. Should I?
Yes, but be aware this is often a delay tactic. File with AESA promptly, include all documentation, and track your case. AESA has ruled against Vueling in many compensation disputes — this pathway does work.
My Iberia ticket was operated by Vueling. Who do I claim from?
The operating carrier (Vueling) is liable under EC261, regardless of whose ticket you bought. File your claim against Vueling. AESA and Spanish courts consistently uphold this.
What is the Spanish claim time limit?
3 years from the date of the disruption under Spanish civil law. This aligns with Germany but is shorter than France (5 years) or the UK (6 years). Don't wait.
Ryanair rejected my claim for a flight from Barcelona. What next?
File an AESA complaint — Ryanair's Irish registration does not override Spanish jurisdiction for flights departing Spain. AESA has a track record of ruling against Ryanair. If AESA rules in your favour and Ryanair still refuses, file in the Spanish courts.
Was your Spain flight disrupted?
Check your entitlement in under 2 minutes. No win, no fee.