Spanish airspace capacity reduced to cut delays

Insufficient airspace capacity is the principal cause of delays according to the Spanish Airports Authority.

The distance between aircraft in Spanish airspace is to be reduced from 22nd September in a bid to cut delays.  The minimum distance will be reduced from 8 to 5 nautical miles, allowing aeroplanes to fly within 9.2 kilometres of each other instead of 14.8 kilometres. These reductions are in line with other European airports, including France, and should increase airspace capacity by 15%.

On approaching an airport airspace will be further reduced to 3 nautical miles. A 2.5 mile limit already operates in Madrid, Barcelona and Palma airports on the last 10 miles of a flight. In July  Madrid Barajas and Barcelona reduced the length of each wait by 10% and 38% respectively when compared to the same time last year, but 36.5% of all delays were still caused by Spain’s air control centres.

Related posts:

1. Assistance for passengers with reduced mobility at Spanish Airports During May the Spanish Canary Islands Airports assisted over 15,500 passengers with reduced mobility. Tenerife South and Gran Canaria assisted 4969 and 4377 passengers respectively, followed by Lanzarote (2622), Fuerteventura (1329), Tenerife Norte (1652), La Palma (507) and La Gomera (4). Assistance offered included help with luggage and check in, assisted boarding and disembarking. Wheelchairs [...]...
2. Palma Airport Reduced Mobility Assistance The airport in Palma on the island of Majorca is the busiest airport in Spain over the summer months. During July and August they assisted 23,945 persons with reduced mobility (PRM) through their service “Without Barriers”. In July with 12117 were helped with 11828 during the month of August. The most requested type of assistance [...]...
3. Ibiza, Menorca and Palma de Mallorca Airports reduced airport taxes? A number of British airlines and tour operators have been meeting with the  Balearic Islands government in a bid to try and reduce airport taxes this winter to attract  more British tourists to the islands in the low season. These taxes are set by central government and the islands’ government hopes that Madrid will allow [...]...
4. Severe weather causes flight delays People have been urged to check with their airline ahead of flying after strong winds caused a number of delays to flights on Tuesday. Edinburgh Airport was closed to inbound flights during Tuesday and outbound flights were being assessed individually,......
5. Passengers warned of flight delays Heavy fog led to the cancellation of over 100 flights from Heathrow and London City airports on Sunday, and is likely to cause further disruptions on Monday. A Met Office spokesman said on Sunday: "We have seen quite dense fog in the south east and eas......