Our Review of Malaga Airport

Table of contents: Our Review of Malaga Airport Pros and Cons of Malaga Airport Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Malaga Airport

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Malaga Airport

PROS

Location: Malaga Airport is located 8 km (5 miles) southwest of Malaga and 5 km (3 miles) north of Torremolinos. Malaga Airport counts with two runways. It serves as a key entry point to Costa del Sol region, known for its beaches and tourist attractions.

Modern and Clean Facilities: The airport features modern facilities with a good range of shops, restaurants, and lounges. It offers amenities suitable for both leisure and business travelers, including VIP services.

Wide Range of Flights Connectivity: Malaga Airport offers numerous international and domestic flights, serving as a hub for airlines like Ryanair and Vueling. It has direct flights to major cities across Europe.

Accessibility: The airport is well-connected to the city and surrounding areas by various transport options, including buses, trains, and taxis.

Efficient Operations: Known for efficient baggage handling and generally short waiting times at security checks, especially outside of peak tourist seasons.

CONS

Crowding During Peak Seasons: The airport can become quite crowded during peak tourist seasons, leading to longer wait times and a more stressful experience.

Terminal Layout: Malaga Airport (AGP) has a single building terminal that handles national and international flights. Due to this during peak season it results in longer queues and a less organized atmosphere.

Immigration Queues: Passengers have reported extended waiting times at immigration, which can lead to delays.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Terminals:

Malaga Airport previously operated with multiple terminals, including Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. However, as of now, only Terminal 3 is operational. Terminal 3 is the sole operating terminal at Malaga Airport, handling all domestic and international flights. It is equipped with modern facilities and amenities to cater to passenger needs.

Transport to and from Malaga:

The airport is well-connected to Malaga city center and the surrounding Costa del Sol region. Transport options include buses, trains, taxis, and transfer services. The C1 train line offers a direct connection to the city center and runs frequently throughout the day. For late-night arrivals, taxis and pre-booked transfers are reliable options.

Check-in Areas:

Check-in counters are located in level 1 with a spacious layout and easy access to departures.

Shops and Dining:

The airport offers a variety of shops and dining options, especially in Terminal 3. After passing through security, you’ll find an array of duty-free shops, restaurants, and cafes. You can enjoy a meal or a coffee while you wait for your flight.

Family-Friendly Facilities:

Malaga Airport is equipped with facilities to cater to families. There are children’s play areas, baby changing rooms, and family-friendly seating areas to ensure a comfortable experience for travelers with young children.

Airport Lounges:

There are several lounges available for passengers looking for a more comfortable and private waiting area. The VIP lounges offer complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi, and a relaxing environment.

Additional Tips:

Make use of the free Wi-Fi throughout the airport to stay connected.
Arrive early during peak travel seasons to avoid delays and enjoy a smoother check-in and security process.
Keep an eye on the flight information screens for the latest updates on your departure gate and flight status.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation