AirAdvisor 2026 Airport Rankings: Tenerife South Enters Top 3, Two Spanish Airports in Top 5
According to the latest global airport ranking report released by aviation consulting firm AirAdvisor on August 17, 2026, Spanish airports have shown an outstanding performance. Tenerife South-Reina Sofía Airport (Tenerife Sur-Reina Sofía) and Palma de Mallorca Airport both broke into the global top five, reaffirming the nation’s exceptional aviation services for tourism.
Spanish Airports Claim 3rd and 4th Place Globally
In this ranking, Tenerife South-Reina Sofía Airport achieved the third-place spot globally with a composite score of 14.81, trailing only London-Heathrow in the UK and Dublin Airport in Ireland. Notably, another Spanish airport, Palma de Mallorca, followed closely in fourth place with a score of 14.63. This means Spain holds two of the top five positions, with Los Angeles International Airport in the US ranking fifth.
Other major Spanish airports also featured prominently. Barcelona-El Prat Airport ranked 11th with a score of 12.12, while the capital’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport entered the top 12 with 11.54 points.
Ranking Criteria and Limitations
It is important to note that this AirAdvisor ranking is not an exhaustive survey of all airports worldwide, but rather a comparative analysis of 23 specific airports. The evaluation model is primarily geared towards the interests of UK and US travelers, integrating six key metrics: on-time performance, overall Google user ratings, transportation costs to the nearest city, the quality of commercial and dining facilities, the physical distance to the city center, and the official Skytrax star rating.
Tenerife South Airport: Strengths and Weaknesses
A key factor in Tenerife South Airport’s high score is its excellent on-time performance. Data shows the airport achieved a 74.04% on-time rate last year, surpassing the average of the airports analyzed. It also boasts a positive user rating of 4 out of 5 on Google. Based on these achievements, AirAdvisor named it the ‘Best Small Airport in the World’ and noted its rank has jumped 7 places since 2023.
However, the airport does have some notable weaknesses. For instance, its Skytrax rating is only 3 stars, and its scores for shops and dining facilities are below average. Furthermore, the bus fare from the airport to the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is approximately €9.35, significantly higher than that of the second-ranked Dublin Airport (€2.60).
Passenger Traffic Reaches Record Highs
In addition to its excellent ranking, Tenerife South Airport’s passenger volume has reached new heights. In 2025, the airport handled nearly 14 million passengers, a 1.7% increase year-over-year, with a total of 92,309 aircraft movements. Both figures set new historical records since the airport opened in 1978.
Within the Canary Islands (Canarias), its passenger traffic is second only to Gran Canaria Airport. Across the entire Spanish airport authority (AENA) network, Tenerife South ranks seventh in passenger throughput and ninth in aircraft movements, establishing it as a crucial aviation hub for both Spain and the Canary Islands.
