Is Gibralta Airport taking business from malaga

Short answer: No, Gibraltar Airport is not taking business away from Málaga Airport. If anything, the opposite is happening: Málaga is receiving Gibraltar’s traffic when Gibraltar cannot operate normally.

Why: Recent reports show that Gibraltar’s limited runway, frequent strong winds, and occasional technical or staffing issues are causing numerous Gibraltar-bound flights to divert to Málaga, not the other way around.

What the latest data shows

35 Gibraltar flights were diverted to Málaga between January and March 2025, bringing over 5,000 unexpected passengers into Málaga Airport.

Diversions happen due to: Strong Levante winds, Gibraltar’s short runway, Technical issues requiring engineers only available in Málaga,

Occasional drone incidents or other disruptions

Málaga Airport has become the default alternative because it has the infrastructure, staff, and Schengen border controls Gibraltar lacks.

EasyJet and British Airways have both diverted flights to Málaga when Gibraltar cannot operate safely or legally.

Does this mean Gibraltar is “taking business” from Málaga?

No. The flow of traffic is towards Málaga, not away from it. Málaga handles:

Gibraltar’s diverted flights

Gibraltar’s passengers entering Schengen unexpectedly

Additional border-control workload

Operational burdens from unplanned arrivals

In fact, Spanish authorities have raised concerns that these diversions create security and migration-control challenges at Málaga Airport.

Bottom line

Gibraltar Airport is not competing with Málaga in a way that takes business away.

Instead, Málaga is absorbing Gibraltar’s overflow whenever Gibraltar cannot operate normally.