Top Airlines in Spain: Your Complete Guide to Spanish Carriers

Spain’s aviation sector features a robust mix of full-service carriers, low-cost operators, and specialized charter airlines.

From the flag carrier serving five continents to regional specialists connecting the Canary Islands, Spanish airlines offer travelers diverse options for domestic and international journeys.

Here’s your complete breakdown of the top airlines in Spain.

Table of Contents

• 1. Iberia Airlines

• 2. Vueling Airlines

• 3. Air Europa

• 4. Iberia Express

• 5. Air Nostrum

• 6. Binter Canarias

• 7. Volotea

• 8. Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas

• 9. Wamos Air

• 10. World2Fly

• 11. AlbaStar

• 12. Canaryfly

• 13. Iberojet

• 14. Privilege Style

• 15. Swiftair

• My Final Thoughts

1. Iberia Airlines

Iberia stands as Spain’s flag carrier and largest airline, founded in 1927.

The airline currently operates a fleet of approximately 129 aircraft, with ambitious expansion plans to increase its long-haul fleet to 70 aircraft by the middle of the decade, up from the current 45 widebody planes.

Iberia serves as the leading carrier between Europe and Latin America. The airline recently ranked third among European airlines for punctuality and eighth globally, according to October 2025 data.

For 2026, Iberia plans several new transatlantic routes. New services include direct flights to Monterrey, Mexico, scheduled to launch in June 2026, plus future routes to Toronto and Philadelphia.

The carrier also plans to increase capacity in Brazil by 25% during the first half of 2026. This expansion forms part of the airline’s Flight Plan 2030, featuring a €6 billion investment strategy focused on fleet renewal and network growth.

2. Vueling Airlines

Vueling operates as Spain’s leading low-cost carrier, based in Viladecans near Barcelona.

Founded in 2004, Vueling became part of International Airlines Group in 2013, alongside Iberia, British Airways, and Aer Lingus.

The airline serves more than 70 destinations across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Barcelona-El Prat Airport serves as its main operational base, where Vueling holds a leadership position in the market.

According to Skytrax’s 2025 rankings, Vueling secured fifth place among the world’s best low-cost airlines. The airline demonstrated strong punctuality performance in 2024, achieving an on-time score of 81.20%.

Vueling expanded its winter schedule significantly by adding almost 1.5 million seats following Ryanair’s capacity cuts at regional Spanish airports. For 2026, the airline launched new routes including Barcelona-Split and expanded connections to Morocco with new services to Nador, Fes, Marrakech, and Tangier.

3. Air Europa

Air Europa operates as Spain’s third-largest airline, specializing in transatlantic services.

Based in Mallorca with its main hub at Madrid-Barajas Airport, the airline commenced operations in 1986. Air Europa belongs to the SkyTeam alliance, providing passengers with extensive global connectivity through partner airlines.

The carrier operates both scheduled passenger services and charter flights. Its network emphasizes routes between Spain and the Americas, particularly to destinations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States.

Air Europa has been involved in ongoing acquisition discussions with International Airlines Group. The airline continues to expand its network, with particular focus on strengthening its position in the Spain-US market, operating routes including Madrid-Miami and Madrid-New York JFK.

For transatlantic operations, Air Europa utilizes modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, offering enhanced passenger comfort and operational efficiency.

4. Iberia Express

Iberia Express functions as Iberia’s low-cost subsidiary, established in 2012.

The airline operates short and medium-haul routes from Madrid, serving as a feeder network for Iberia’s long-haul operations. Iberia Express focuses on price-sensitive markets while maintaining operational standards aligned with its parent company.

The carrier achieved notable recognition in Skytrax’s 2025 global rankings, securing eighth place among the world’s best low-cost airlines.

Operating Model: Low-cost subsidiary
Parent Company: Iberia Airlines
Fleet: Airbus A320 family aircraft
Network Focus: European short-haul routes
Hub: Madrid-Barajas Airport

Following Ryanair’s capacity reductions across regional Spain, Iberia Express expanded its offerings by adding over 400,000 seats to various Spanish markets during the 2025-2026 winter season.

The airline complements Iberia’s premium full-service offering by providing affordable connections throughout Spain and Europe, particularly serving leisure destinations around the Mediterranean.

5. Air Nostrum

Air Nostrum operates as Spain’s largest regional airline, founded in 1994.

Based in Valencia, Air Nostrum operates as an independent carrier while serving as a franchisee of Iberia under the brand Iberia Regional Air Nostrum. The airline merged with CityJet in 2023, forming one of Europe’s largest regional aviation holding companies.

Air Nostrum holds a 4-Star rating from Skytrax for its service quality. The airline operates an extensive domestic network throughout Spain, plus flights to European destinations.

As part of the oneworld alliance through its Iberia partnership, Air Nostrum passengers can access nearly 1,000 destinations globally. The carrier specializes in connecting smaller cities to major hubs, providing essential regional connectivity throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

The airline also provides wet-lease services to other carriers, including Lufthansa and Binter Canarias, demonstrating its operational flexibility and expertise in regional aviation.

6. Binter Canarias

Binter Canarias serves as the premier inter-island carrier in the Canary Islands, established in 1989.

Headquartered in Gran Canaria, Binter specializes in connecting the seven Canary Islands with frequent, reliable service. The airline expanded beyond inter-island routes to serve destinations in mainland Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Mauritania.

Core Business: Inter-island Canary connections
Fleet Type: ATR turboprop aircraft
Network: Canary Islands, Morocco, West Africa
Operational Focus: Regional connectivity

Previously owned by Iberia until 2002, Binter Canarias now operates independently while maintaining strong partnerships with other Spanish carriers.

The airline uses fuel-efficient ATR turboprop aircraft, perfectly suited for the short distances between Canary Islands. This fleet choice provides economical operations while delivering frequent service on high-demand routes.

Binter responded to Ryanair’s capacity cuts by adding significant capacity to Spanish routes, particularly strengthening connections between the Canaries and mainland Spain during the 2025-2026 season.

7. Volotea

Volotea operates as an independent low-cost carrier focused on connecting small and mid-sized European cities.

Founded in 2012, Volotea bases aircraft in multiple Spanish cities including Asturias, Bilbao, Seville, and Santiago de Compostela.

The airline’s business model targets routes underserved by larger carriers, providing direct connections between secondary cities across Europe.

Volotea achieved sixth place globally among low-cost airlines in Skytrax’s 2025 rankings, demonstrating strong service quality despite its budget positioning.

Volotea expanded its Spanish operations by adding capacity following Ryanair’s reductions, particularly strengthening regional connectivity throughout Spain.

The carrier operates approximately 350 routes across Europe, emphasizing leisure destinations and visiting friends and relatives traffic between smaller communities.

8. Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas

Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas operates as a Spanish long-haul carrier specializing in routes to Latin America.

Established in 2012, Plus Ultra focuses on connecting Madrid with destinations in Central and South America. The airline serves a niche market, offering competitive pricing on transatlantic routes while maintaining full-service amenities.

Established: 2012
Hub: Madrid-Barajas Airport
Fleet Type: Airbus A340, A359
Primary Markets: Spain-Latin America
Target Segment: Ethnic and VFR traffic

The airline’s leadership includes Spanish and Venezuelan investors who have supported the carrier’s operations through capital injections. Plus Ultra’s network emphasizes destinations with strong Spanish-speaking communities, facilitating connections between Spain and the Americas.

The carrier operates widebody aircraft suitable for long-haul international services, providing business and economy class cabins on its transatlantic routes.

9. Wamos Air

Wamos Air operates as Spain’s leading charter and ACMI specialist, formerly known as Pullmantur Air.

Founded in 2003, the airline bases its operations at Madrid-Barajas Airport. Wamos Air positions itself as the European leader in charter and wet-lease operations, with capability to launch flights to any global destination within three hours’ notice.

The airline provides wet-lease services to other carriers, operating flights on behalf of European airlines requiring additional capacity. Wamos Air supplied aircraft to LEVEL and other IAG subsidiaries for transatlantic operations in recent seasons.

For 2026, Wamos Air continues operating scheduled charter flights to five primary destinations: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Spain, serving the leisure travel market with high-capacity widebody aircraft.

10. World2Fly

World2Fly operates as a Spanish leisure airline specializing in long-haul holiday destinations.

Launched in 2019, World2Fly bases operations in Madrid with additional presence in Palma de Mallorca. The airline focuses on connecting Spanish cities with popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Latin America.

Launch Year: 2019
Base: Madrid-Barajas Airport
Fleet: Airbus A330-300, A350-900
Focus: Leisure long-haul routes
Key Destinations: Punta Cana, Cancun, Zanzibar

World2Fly operates modern widebody aircraft including Airbus A350-900 jets, offering contemporary cabin products for long-haul leisure travelers. The airline serves destinations including Punta Cana, Cancun, Havana, Santo Domingo, Zanzibar, Cali, Cartagena de Indias, and Rosario.

Beyond its scheduled leisure operations, World2Fly provides ACMI and charter services to other carriers. The airline announced partnerships with German tour operators to offer leisure flights from Central Europe, expanding its charter business beyond Spanish markets.

11. AlbaStar

AlbaStar operates as a specialized charter carrier focusing on seasonal and religious pilgrimage flights.

Founded in 2010, AlbaStar serves the charter market with particular emphasis on religious tourism to destinations like Saudi Arabia and Israel. The airline also operates seasonal leisure flights to Mediterranean and European destinations.

AlbaStar announced plans to grow its fleet in 2026, seeking additional charter business opportunities. The airline aims to deploy two additional aircraft in the Canary Islands to meet increased demand, as part of expansion plans to double its size by 2028.

The carrier operates from multiple Spanish airports on a seasonal basis, adjusting capacity to match demand patterns throughout the year.

12. Canaryfly

Canaryfly operates as an independent regional carrier serving the Canary Islands.

Established in 2010, Canaryfly competes with Binter Canarias on inter-island routes while also connecting the archipelago to mainland Spain and Morocco.

Established: 2010
Base: Gran Canaria Airport
Fleet Type: ATR turboprop aircraft
Network: Canary Islands inter-island routes
Competition: Alternative to Binter Canarias

The airline operates a fleet of ATR turboprop aircraft, optimized for the short-haul nature of Canary Islands operations. Canaryfly provides travelers with additional choice and competition on routes between the islands.

The carrier also serves selected destinations in Morocco, capitalizing on the geographical proximity between the Canary Islands and North Africa.

13. Iberojet

Iberojet functions as a Spanish-Portuguese charter airline operating vacation routes.

Operating since 2013, Iberojet serves leisure destinations primarily in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean from bases in Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona.

The airline operates a mixed fleet including modern Airbus A330-900neo and A350-900 aircraft for long-haul routes. Iberojet destinations include Punta Cana, Cancun, Santa Clara, San Jose (Costa Rica), Mauritius, Bangkok, and various Colombian cities.

Iberojet provided aircraft on wet-lease agreements to other carriers including LEVEL for transatlantic services. The airline serves both scheduled charter routes and provides ACMI capacity to other operators.

14. Privilege Style

Privilege Style operates as a Spanish charter and ACMI airline specializing in private and customized flights.

Founded in 2003 by Spanish businessman Chema Álvarez Díaz, Privilege Style maintains headquarters in Palma de Mallorca with operations from Madrid-Barajas Airport.

Founded: 2003
Fleet: Boeing 757, Boeing 777
Services: Charter, ACMI, private flights
Certifications: IOSA, FAA, FAOC, EASA approved
Operations: Worldwide capability

Over 15 years of operations, Privilege Style accumulated over 110,000 flight hours and landed at more than 500 airports worldwide. The airline provides subcharter flights on behalf of other carriers, plus charter services for tour operators, sports teams, and VIP clients.

The carrier operates a mixed fleet of Boeing widebody aircraft suitable for long-haul charter operations. Privilege Style holds multiple international certifications, enabling it to operate globally with high safety and operational standards.

15. Swiftair

Swiftair operates as one of Spain’s top three airlines by fleet size, specializing in cargo and passenger charter services.

Established in 1986, Swiftair bases operations at Madrid-Barajas Airport. The airline primarily serves the overnight express cargo market while also providing passenger charter flights to other carriers.

Swiftair operates a substantial fleet focused on cargo operations, transporting time-sensitive freight throughout Europe and beyond. The airline also maintains passenger aircraft available for charter and ACMI operations.

The carrier serves a vital role in Spain’s logistics infrastructure, providing reliable overnight express services for e-commerce and business freight requirements.

My Final Thoughts

Spain’s airline industry demonstrates remarkable diversity, with 15 operational carriers registered in the country serving distinct market segments.

The sector balances legacy full-service carriers like Iberia with modern low-cost operators, including Vueling and Volotea. Regional specialists such as Binter Canarias and Air Nostrum provide essential connectivity to smaller communities, while charter operators like Wamos Air and Privilege Style serve the leisure and ACMI markets.

Spanish airlines collectively achieved notable recognition in 2025, with three carriers ranking among the world’s top 10 low-cost airlines. Iberia’s punctuality performance and expansion plans demonstrate the flag carrier’s commitment to quality and growth, particularly strengthening Spain’s position as the European gateway to Latin America.

The industry faces ongoing adjustments, with capacity shifts following Ryanair’s regional cutbacks creating opportunities for Spanish carriers to expand domestic operations. Fleet modernization remains a priority, with multiple airlines investing in fuel-efficient aircraft to improve environmental performance and operational economics.

For travelers, this competitive environment translates to abundant choice across price points, service levels, and destination options, whether flying domestically within Spain or connecting to global destinations across five continents.