British holidaymakers heading to the Balearic Islands this summer may face a higher risk of flight cancellations than travellers on other European routes, according to new flight data.
Travel company AirAdvisor has analysed flight information and found that journeys between London's major airports and the islands of Majorca and Ibiza are among the most likely to be cancelled during the summer months.
Data shows higher cancellation rates
Research by AirAdvisor's aviation intelligence platform compared routes between UK airports and Europe that had at least 100 flights scheduled between June 1 and August 31, 2025. The findings painted a similar picture then, and this year's figures are already showing the same trend.
Last year, Ibiza saw six of 105 flights from London Luton dropped, a cancellation rate of 5.56%. The route from Heathrow to Palma, Majorca's capital, had 14 of 875 direct flights cancelled, a rate of 1.60%, while Gatwick and Luton also saw 1.31% and 1.30% cancellations respectively.
Data from this year is said to paint a similar picture, with 36 of 1,050 flights from Gatwick and Heathrow to Majorca cancelled so far, a rate of 3.44%. Cancellations between London and Ibiza have also already totalled 3.05%.
AirAdvisor CEO warns travellers
Anton Radchenko, chief executive officer of AirAdvisor, said: "Cancellation risk on UK routes to Europe is not spread evenly and this summer the Balearics are carrying a bigger share of it than anywhere else. That's worth understanding before you travel because a cancellation is not just a long wait at the gate."
He added: "You lose your slot; same-day options dry up quickly and, from that point on, the airline decides what happens next, not you."
Passenger rights and compensation
Radchenko urges travellers whose flights are cancelled to check if they are owed compensation. Under UK air passenger rights law, passengers can claim between £220 and £520 for flights cancelled less than 14 days before departure.
Passengers also have the right to be re-booked on the next available flight, or to choose a later one if it suits them better. Radchenko warned: "If the airline offers you a voucher, don't accept it before checking what you're owed in cash. Vouchers come with conditions; they expire and taking one can close off your right to claim."
Industrial action at Palma airport
A separate issue affecting Palma airport is industrial action by baggage handlers. Further strikes are set to take place there on two dates next week, with the potential to cause disruption for holidaymakers.
