Official layover times are not always sufficient at major international hubs

Minimum layover times aren't always enough: Madrid and Barcelona face an increased risk of missing connecting flights. An analysis by AirHelp warns that the officially recommended layover times aren't always sufficient at major international hubs, especially during periods of high demand

Missing a connecting flight isn't always due to arriving late at the airport. In many cases, even when adhering to the minimum layover times established by airlines and operators, thousands of passengers face overly tight connections at major airport hubs, where delays, security checks, terminal changes, or operational congestion turn a seemingly viable layover into a race against the clock.

According to a new analysis by AirHelp, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport ranks among the international airports with the highest risk of missing a connection, coming in 10th place in the ranking with a score of 4.23.

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport also appears in this ranking, in 35th place, with a score of 4.85.

Both airports stand out for their high volume of international connections and for being among the best-ranked in terms of the number of flights, but it is precisely this scale and operational complexity that can work against passengers when time margins are too tight.

The study suggests that, although Madrid and Barcelona officially recommend 45 minutes for domestic connections and up to 90 minutes for certain international connections, these times may prove insufficient during periods of heavy traffic.

Large hubs, greater logistical pressure

The analysis identifies major international airports as potential ?logistical black holes,? especially when they handle high passenger volumes, have multiple terminals, require additional security checks, or experience heavy international traffic.

As in Madrid and Barcelona, in Spain, this situation is also reflected in tourist airports such as Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife North or Gran Canaria, which see their performance decline, particularly during peak periods.

These three airports are barely passing?with scores of 5.44, 5.56, and 5.85, respectively. In the ranking, the islands are in 57th, 62nd, and 73rd place, based on the number of missed connections generated. 

Compared to major international hubs, the study finds more efficient performance at airports such as Santiago de Compostela, Asturias, and Bilbao, which, even with shorter recommended layover times, offer better operational results and a lower risk of missing connections.

This suggests that it is not only the theoretical layover time that matters, but also factors such as airport size, the distance between boarding gates, the efficiency of security checks, and seasonal congestion.