Best Airlines from the UK to Spain: Routes, Airports & Baggage Compared

Which airlines fly from the UK to Spain?

Spain is one of the most heavily served international destinations from the UK, so travellers typically have a genuine choice of full-service, low-cost and leisure-focused carriers on most popular routes. Full-service airlines such as British Airways, Iberia and Air Europa generally include checked baggage and offer more flexible fare types, often with onward connections through their hub airports. Low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air focus on point-to-point routes with unbundled pricing, where baggage, seat selection and other extras are usually paid for separately. Leisure-focused airlines such as Jet2 and TUI Airways concentrate on popular holiday destinations and are frequently paired with package holidays.

Which airlines actually serve your trip depends heavily on your UK departure airport and your Spanish destination — a route from London to Madrid has a very different airline mix to a route from Bristol to Alicante. Compare current options for your dates on our flights to Spain page.

Popular airlines flying from the UK to Spain

British Airways flights to Spain

British Airways is a full-service carrier operating mainly from London Heathrow and London Gatwick to major Spanish cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante and Valencia. Its fares often include a checked bag depending on the fare type, and its London network makes it a practical choice for travellers who want onward connections or a wider schedule of flight times. It may not always offer the lowest headline fare compared with low-cost carriers, so it suits travellers who prioritise flexibility, included baggage or cabin comfort over the absolute cheapest ticket.

easyJet flights to Spain

easyJet operates one of the broadest UK networks to Spain, flying from airports including London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and several regional airports to destinations such as Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante, Palma and Tenerife. Its fare structure is unbundled, so cabin baggage, checked baggage and seat selection are typically priced separately from the base fare, and it is a strong option for travellers with flexible airport choices.

Ryanair flights to Spain

Ryanair serves an extremely wide spread of UK and Spanish airports, often including secondary or regional airports on both sides. Its low headline fares can make it attractive for budget-focused travel, but its baggage, seat selection and other optional extras are charged separately, so the final price depends heavily on what you add to the booking. Comparing the total price, not just the advertised fare, is particularly important with Ryanair.

Jet2 flights to Spain

Jet2 has a strong presence at regional UK airports such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and focuses heavily on leisure destinations including Málaga, Alicante, Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It is frequently combined with package holidays and tends to suit travellers based outside London who want a direct regional departure to a beach destination.

Vueling flights to Spain

Vueling is a Spanish low-cost carrier with a particularly strong network into Barcelona, alongside routes to Madrid and other Spanish cities from selected UK airports such as London Gatwick and Heathrow. It is a practical option for travellers whose UK departure airport has a direct Vueling route to their chosen Spanish city, especially for Barcelona-focused trips.

Iberia flights to Spain

Iberia is Spain's flag carrier, offering a full-service experience with a strong Madrid hub network. It typically flies from London to Madrid, and can suit travellers heading directly to the Spanish capital or connecting onward within Spain, elsewhere in Europe, or to Latin America via Iberia's Madrid hub.

Wizz Air flights to Spain

Wizz Air operates a smaller but growing number of UK-Spain routes, generally as a low-cost carrier with unbundled fares similar to Ryanair and easyJet. Route availability is more selective, so it is worth checking whether your specific UK airport and Spanish destination are currently served.

TUI Airways flights to Spain

TUI Airways is closely associated with package holidays and leisure travel, flying from a wide spread of UK regional airports to holiday destinations such as Tenerife, Málaga, Alicante and Mallorca. It suits travellers booking a holiday package or a straightforward leisure trip from a regional airport.

Air Europa flights to Spain

Air Europa is a Spanish full-service carrier operating primarily between London and Madrid, useful for travellers who want a full-service experience with onward connections through Madrid, including routes to Latin America.

Other airlines serving Spain from the UK

Airlines such as KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, TAP Air Portugal, Swiss and Brussels Airlines can also route UK travellers to Spain, though usually via their home hub rather than as a direct UK-Spain service. These can be worth considering when a direct flight is not available on your preferred dates, but expect a longer overall journey time due to the connection.

Compare airlines flying to Spain from the UK

The table below is an orientation guide to help you narrow down which airlines are worth comparing for your specific trip — it is not a ranking, since the right airline depends on your route and priorities.

Airline networks and route availability change by season, so always confirm current schedules when booking.

British Airways vs easyJet vs Ryanair vs Jet2: how to compare

Rather than declaring one airline the winner, it helps to compare the factors that actually affect your trip:

• Fare structure: full-service fares often bundle baggage and flexibility; low-cost fares are usually unbundled, so extras are priced separately.
• Baggage: compare the total cost including checked and cabin baggage, not just the advertised fare.
• Airports: your nearest UK airport may only be served by certain airlines for your chosen Spanish city.
• Direct routes: check whether your route is direct or requires a connection with each airline.
• Flexibility: full-service carriers often allow easier date changes; low-cost fares can be more restrictive.
• Cabin experience: full-service airlines typically include more comfort features; low-cost airlines focus on efficient, shorter-haul service.

A low-cost airline may suit travellers prioritising the lowest base fare, while a full-service airline may be more suitable when baggage, flexibility or included services matter more.

Best airlines by UK departure airport

Airline choice for Spain varies significantly by UK airport. Here is what to expect from the most common departure points:

• London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City): the widest choice — British Airways and Iberia from Heathrow, easyJet and Vueling from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stansted, and easyJet from Luton, covering most major Spanish cities.
• Manchester: easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 all serve popular Spanish leisure and city routes, with British Airways or Vueling available on some route-dependent connections.
• Birmingham: easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 cover key destinations such as Alicante, Málaga and Barcelona.
• Edinburgh: easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 operate seasonal and year-round routes to Málaga, Alicante and Barcelona.
• Glasgow: easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 serve popular leisure routes, particularly in spring and summer.
• Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Newcastle: typically served by easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI Airways on leisure-focused routes.

Share your nearest airport on our flights to Spain page for a tailored comparison of what is currently available.

Best airlines for popular Spain destinations

Madrid

Madrid is well served by Iberia and British Airways as full-service options, alongside Air Europa, with Ryanair and easyJet offering lower-cost alternatives from several UK airports.

Barcelona

Barcelona has strong coverage from Vueling, alongside Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Iberia, making it one of the best-connected Spanish cities from the UK.

Málaga

Málaga and the Costa del Sol are served by easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, British Airways and TUI Airways, reflecting strong leisure and beach-holiday demand.

Alicante

Alicante and the Costa Blanca are covered by Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and TUI Airways, with British Airways also serving the route from London on certain schedules.

Palma, Mallorca

Mallorca routes are operated by easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI Airways, particularly during the spring to autumn season.

Tenerife and Gran Canaria

The Canary Islands are served year-round by Jet2, TUI Airways, easyJet and Ryanair, reflecting their popularity as a winter-sun destination.

Valencia and Ibiza

Valencia and Ibiza are covered by a mix of Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Vueling, with route frequency increasing over the summer season.

Best airlines for cheap flights to Spain

Finding a genuinely cheap fare means comparing more than the advertised headline price. Consider:

• The base fare itself
• Cabin baggage allowance and cost
• Checked baggage cost if needed
• Seat selection fees
• Airport transfer and parking costs
• Change or cancellation fees
• Payment processing fees
• Your specific travel dates and how far in advance you book

Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet can offer lower headline fares on some UK-Spain routes, but the final price depends on dates, baggage, seat selection and other optional extras — so always compare the total, baggage-inclusive cost rather than the base fare alone.

Best airlines for direct flights to Spain

Most major UK-Spain routes have direct options, typically taking around two to three hours, but direct availability depends heavily on your departure airport, Spanish destination, travel date and season rather than being guaranteed on every route. British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, Vueling, Iberia and TUI Airways all operate direct services on at least some UK-Spain pairings.

If a nonstop flight matters most to your trip, confirm current direct routes for your exact dates on our flights to Spain page, since networks are adjusted seasonally.

Best airlines for baggage on flights to Spain

Baggage policies vary considerably between airlines and fare types, and are updated periodically, so always check the current allowance for your specific fare before booking. In general:

• Full-service airlines (British Airways, Iberia, Air Europa) more often include a personal item, cabin bag and at least one checked bag within standard fares.
• Low-cost airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air) typically include only a small personal item as standard, with cabin and checked baggage priced as add-ons.
• Leisure airlines (Jet2, TUI Airways) often bundle baggage differently depending on whether you book a package holiday or a flight-only ticket.

For family trips or longer stays, compare the full baggage-inclusive price across airlines rather than the base fare, since baggage costs can materially change which airline actually works out cheaper.

Best airlines for families, business trips and beach holidays

Families flying to Spain

For family trips, consider baggage allowances, seating options, direct routes and convenient flight times over a single "best for families" label — a full-service airline may reduce baggage costs and stress, while a leisure airline with a direct regional route may reduce total travel time.

Business trips to Spain

Business travellers often prioritise London airport connectivity, schedule frequency, flexibility and cabin options, making British Airways and Iberia's Heathrow-Madrid network, or frequent easyJet and Vueling schedules into Barcelona, worth comparing.

Beach holidays to Spain

For coastal breaks, match the airline to the region: easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI Airways for the Costa del Sol (Málaga) and Costa Blanca (Alicante); easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI Airways for the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza); and Jet2, TUI Airways, easyJet and Ryanair for the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria).

How to choose the right airline for your Spain trip

• If your priority is the lowest headline fare: compare low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air.
• If you need baggage included: compare the total fare including luggage across full-service and low-cost options.
• If you want flexibility: compare each airline's change and cancellation conditions.
• If you want regional airport convenience: compare airlines actually serving your nearest UK airport.
• If you want a direct flight: filter for nonstop routes on your exact dates.
• If you're travelling to Madrid: compare Iberia, British Airways, Air Europa, Ryanair and easyJet.
• If you're travelling to Barcelona: compare Vueling, Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Iberia.

Popular UK–Spain routes at a glance

Indicative journey times below are approximate and vary by airline, season and connection — always confirm exact timings and stops when booking.

Do I need a visa to fly from the UK to Spain?

British passport holders can generally visit Spain for short tourist stays without a visa, within the Schengen area's rules on stay length within a rolling period, subject to meeting passport validity and other entry conditions. Requirements and border processes, including biometric checks being introduced for Schengen travel, can change, so always check current official guidance from GOV.UK before booking.