Check Compensation
vectorbubblebubbletopright
backbubbles
  • starf
  • starf
  • starf
  • starf
  • starh

Reviews.io 4.6/5 Based on 22,006 reviews

Madrid Airport Flight Delays and Cancellations: Live Updates

If you have suffered a flight delay or cancellation, or got denied boarding by an airline at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, you may have the right to compensation of up to $650 (€600) per person.
AirAdvisor makes it easy for you to claim compensation. Filing a claim does not entail any risk or advance cost, as AirAdvisor only gets a success fee commission from payment received from the airline. The service is free, if compensation is not collected.

Free and instant Delay Compensation Checker
  • Wise choice: 5% cheaper service
  • No Win, No Fee
logo

Savings up to $130 per family

logo

No financial risks

logo

98% success rate in court

Search for my flight

Flight Compensation Search

Recent flights eligible for compensation

close
Madrid Airport Flight Delays and Cancellations: Live Updates
Nicolle Harwood-Nash
Last Updated: January 23, 2025

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is a busy European airport, serving millions of passengers each year. While the airport aims to maintain smooth and efficient operation, flight delays and cancellations are sometimes inevitable. If you experience a disruption like this, you may be entitled to compensation under European Union law.

AirAdvisor exists to help you claim compensation for a range of air travel disruptions by providing you with the tools and support to navigate the complex legal process. In this article, we discuss the types of compensation you may be eligible for at this Madrid airport, how much the compensation can be worth, and how to claim it.

warning

Madrid Barajas Airport secures the 4th position in our Top-10 list of the world's best airports, with an impressive AirAdvisor score of 24.05. It is highly regarded for its punctuality and has earned an outstanding 5-star rating on Skytrax.

How to Claim Madrid-Barajas Airport Flight Delay Compensation

Like any other major international airport, Madrid–Barajas Airport experiences flight delays from time to time because of a range of reasons. These reasons might include air traffic congestion, technical problems, weather conditions and other circumstances. The good news is, if you're on the receiving end of a delayed flight at this airport, you may be eligible for flight delay compensation in accordance with your rights as a passenger in the EU.

Madrid Airport Canceled Flight Compensation

Passenger Rights in Case of MAD Flight Delay

As Madrid Airport is based within the European Union, if you're departing on flights from this airport, you're covered under EU Regulation 261/2004, also known as the EU261. The regulation stipulates that if your flight is delayed by over three hours for reasons excluding extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, political instability, etc.) you may be eligible for delayed flight compensation.

Besides monetary compensation, you may also be eligible for other benefits, for instance, meals, refreshments and accommodation, though this depends on the length of the delay you experienced and the distance of your flight. It's important to note that if you're seeking flight delay compensation, there's typically a requirement for you to claim it within three years of the flight.

Find out if you are owed compensation for a disrupted flightAll you have to do is submit the application and wait for the compensation to be received.Check Your Flight

How Much Can You Claim for MAD Delay

The amount of compensation you can claim for a flight delay experienced at Barajas Airport usually ranges from $270 (€250) to $650 (€600). How much compensation you receive depends on a number of factors, illustrated by the table below:

Delay time

Flight Distance

Compensation Amount

3 or more hours

< 1,500 km

 €250

3 hours, or more 

1,500-3,500 km

 €400

3 or more hours

> 3,500 km

 €600*

Less than 3 hours

 Not eligible for compensation

Madrid Airport Canceled Flight Compensation & Refund

There are numerous reasons your flight departing from Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport may be canceled. For example, adverse weather, technical issues, strikes and other operational issues. Luckily, in many of these cases, you can be eligible for canceled flight compensation and a full flight refund.

view of the entire Adolfo Suarez Madrid Airport

Canceled Flight Law in Europe

The canceled flight law within the EU261 protects your rights as a passenger and ensures that airlines are held accountable for canceled flights, whereby the disruption was within their control. The regulation stipulates that you may be eligible for monetary compensation, as well as other assistance, such as meals, refreshments and accommodation, if you meet the following criteria:

  • you booked the flight yourself
  • your flight was canceled within a two-week period from the scheduled departure date
  • the cancellation was due to a reason within the airline's control
  • the flight leaves from an EU airport (which it does if departing from Adolfo Suarez Madrid Airport)

In addition to compensation, you may choose between receiving a full refund for your flight or being booked on an alternative flight to your final destination on an available date of your choice.

Don’t accept airline vouchersLet AirAdvisor help your case.Check Your Flight

Madrid MAD Canceled Flight Compensation You Can Claim

How much compensation you can claim for a canceled flight at Madrid Airport can depend on a number of factors. These factors can include your flight distance and the extent of the delay caused by the cancellation. Typically, the amount you can claim varies from $270 (€250) to $650 (€600).

Should the airline offer you a travel voucher in response to a canceled flight, it's important to carefully review the terms and conditions of the voucher. By doing this, you can ensure you're not waiving your rights to a cash refund or compensation by accepting it.

Flight Distance

Length of Delay

Compensation




Less than 1,500 km

Arrives less than 2 hours at final destination

€125

Arrives more than 2 hours at final destination

€250




Flights 1,500-3,500 km

Departs 2+ hours earlier than original flight and lands less than 3 hours later than original flight (at final destination)

€200

Departs more than 2 hours before your original flight and arrives 3+ hours later 

€400





Flights over 3,500 km

Departs less than 1 hour earlier than your original flight and arrives at your final destination under 4 hours from original flight

€300

Arrives at final destination 4+ hours later than original flight

€600

Denied Boarding at Madrid MAD Airport

Being denied boarding at any airport can be an extremely frustrating experience. Knowing your rights in case of denied boarding and options for compensation, in this case, can help lighten the burden. If you're denied boarding at Madrid–Barajas Airport, you can be eligible to receive compensation, re-routing or a full ticket refund. The compensation you're entitled to depends on the reason you were denied boarding and the length of the delay you experienced as a result.

For example, under EU261, if you had a confirmed booking and checked in within the specified timeframe but were denied boarding due to overbooking, the airline may owe you compensation ranging from $270 (€250) to $650 (€600). Depending on the circumstances, you may also be entitled to free refreshments, meals and accommodation.

Let AirAdvisor Help You Claim Flight Delay Compensation.Check Your Flight

Claim Madrid Airport Compensation With AirAdvisor

AirAdvisor understands that experiencing a delayed, canceled or overbooked flight can be a stressful experience. We're here to help you claim the compensation you deserve with our easy-to-use service that guides you through the claims process and handles all the legal aspects on your behalf. The best part is, there's only a fee for our services if we're successful in obtaining the compensation you deserve, meaning no financial risk to you.

Below, you can review the steps for claiming Madrid–Barajas Airport compensation through AirAdvisor:

  1. Go to the AirAdvisor website and click on the "Check Compensation" button.
  2. Enter your flight details, including the airline, flight number, departure and arrival airports, and date of the flight.
  3. Provide any additional information about the delay, such as the reason for the delay or any communication you received from the airline.
  4. Submit your claim, and we'll evaluate your case to determine if you are eligible for compensation.
  5. If you're eligible for compensation, we'll handle the legal process on your behalf, including communicating with the airline.
  6. If your claim is successful, we'll take a commission from the compensation amount as payment for our services.

Questions and Answers

Below, you can explore some frequently asked questions about inconveniences you may experience as a passenger at Madrid Airport, such as delayed flights, canceled flights and denied boarding:

Why do flights get delayed at Madrid–Barajas Airport?

There are several factors that can cause delays at Madrid Airport, most of which are unpredictable in nature. You can explore some of the main causes of delayed flights at this airport below:

  • Weather conditions: Bad weather, such as heavy rain, fog or strong winds may affect flight operations, causing flight delays.
  • Air traffic congestion: Madrid Airport can experience high levels of air traffic, which can lead to delays in takeoff or landing.
  • Technical issues: Technical problems with the aircraft, such as mechanical or electrical issues, can delay your flight.
  • Late aircraft arrival: Delays on previous flights can cause the aircraft to arrive at Madrid Airport late, which can cause delays for the subsequent flight.
  • Airline or airport operations: Issues such as staff shortages, gate availability and baggage handling problems may also cause flight delays.
  • Runway maintenance: Scheduled or unscheduled maintenance work on the airport's runways or taxiways can cause flight delays, as flights may require rerouting or rescheduling.
  • Security incidents: A suspicious package or unauthorized access to a restricted area, for example, can cause delays as the airport conducts security procedures to ensure the safety of airport personnel, passengers and crew.

How do I claim compensation if my flight from Madrid was delayed or canceled?

If you experienced a delayed or canceled flight at Barajas Airport, you can contact the airline responsible directly, or rely on our expert team at AirAdvisor to handle it for you. You'll need to provide flight details and any supporting evidence along with your claim. It's also important to act quickly, as there can be time limits in which you're eligible to make a claim for compensation.

What to do if I am denied boarding at Madrid Airport?

If you're denied boarding at Madrid Airport, your first step should be to seek an explanation from the airline, preferably in writing. Typically, airlines deny boarding if the flight is overbooked or if you're without the required travel documents or visas.

If you believe that the airline wrongly denied you boarding, you may be eligible for compensation under EU261. It's important to keep all your travel documents, boarding passes and any other evidence to support your claim.

Your next step can be to contact a customer service representative at the airport or the airline's customer service center to discuss your options for rebooking or obtaining a refund. Should you have issues with this process, AirAdvisor is, of course, here to lighten the load.

Flight Compensation Calculator

Flight Compensation Calculator:

Check if you are entitled to flight delay compensation in just 3 minutes.
Free Instant Check

Free Instant Check

Free Instant Check

No Win, No Fee

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport on the map

Ready to claim your $650 (€600) now?

It takes less than 5 minutes

Claim compensation

AirAdvisor has been featured in:

  • CNN
  • Forbes
  • USA Today
  • Mirror