MAD
Madrid
GRU
São Paulo
Madrid to São Paulo
Flight Compensation
Madrid to São Paulo — Air Europa's South American flagship.
MAD–GRU is Air Europa's flagship South American route, connecting Madrid with São Paulo. This long-haul route is subject to EC261 with up to €600 compensation for delays over 3 hours.
€600
Max compensation (EC261 tier 3)
9,260 km
Route distance
11h 00m
Scheduled flight time
Max Compensation
€600
per passenger · MAD departures
> 3,500 km · Long-haul
Average processing: 50 days
Free check · 5 years limit · No fee unless we win
01Route Intelligence
MAD–GRU is a high-value long-haul route with average delays of 55 minutes. Long-haul delays are more likely to exceed the 3-hour threshold.
Our Success Rate
73%
on MAD–GRU claims
Average Payout
€570
per passenger
Peak Disruption Periods
December – January
Christmas/New Year peak, Brazilian summer
July – August
European summer, Brazilian winter travel
Key Legal Nuance on This Route
What Makes MAD–GRU Claims Different
EC261 applies to MAD departures. At 9,260 km, this is firmly tier 3 (€600).
02Airlines on This Route
Who operates MAD–GRU, their delay record, and how they resist claims.
Air Europa
UXAvg Delay
55min
Claim Success
73%
How UX Resists Claims on This Route
Air Europa cites 'operational reasons' and 'late inbound aircraft' — both within carrier control on a scheduled route.
03Disruption Causes & Legal Status
What actually causes delays on MAD–GRU — and whether each is extraordinary under EC261.
Late Inbound Aircraft
~45% of delays
Aircraft arriving late from GRU cause knock-on delays at MAD.
Rotational delays are within carrier control. Claim valid.
Technical Delays
~25% of delays
Long-haul aircraft technical issues.
Within carrier control. Claim valid.
04How We Handle MAD–GRU Claims
You submit your flight details
2 minutes. Flight number, date, and what happened. We identify the operating carrier automatically — critical for codeshare routes.
We verify the MAD–GRU specific cause
File with Air Europa citing EC261. The €600 tier applies at 9,260 km.
Submission, escalation, and payment
Escalate to AESA if rejected. Spanish courts have a 5-year limitation period.
05EC261 on MAD–GRU
EC261 applies because MAD is a EU airport
Your departure airport (MAD, Madrid) is in Spain. EC261 covers all flights departing EU airports, regardless of airline nationality or destination. The fact that your destination (GRU, São Paulo) is in Brazil does not change the applicable regulation.
Enforcement Body
AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea)
Claim Time Limit
5 years from flight date
06Frequently Asked Questions
Real questions from passengers who flew MAD–GRU.
Does EC261 apply on Air Europa MAD–GRU flights?
Yes. EC261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. Air Europa is an EU carrier. You're entitled to €600 for delays of 3+ hours.
Ready to Claim?
Start Your MAD → GRU Claim
No win, no fee. We verify the exact delay cause, identify the operating carrier, and submit directly to AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea) if needed.