More planes, same airport: Why Palma Airport is experiencing more delays right now

Why Palma Airport is currently seeing more delays

The question arises: Is this just the usual summer rush — or is there a deeper problem in the airport's infrastructure and organization? Anyone who has stood in the arrivals hall in recent days knows the scene: slow baggage carousels, subdued voices, repeated announcements. The coffee in the departure hall suddenly tastes like waiting.

End of holidays exposes the bottleneck

Quite simply, it starts with the calendar. Summer holidays in large parts of Germany are ending, and many families return home at the same time. Mallorca is tightly scheduled: almost a thousand movements a day, numerous short-haul flights, and the usual charter waves. When everyone wants to go home at once, small delays immediately become big — a delayed baggage carousel or a narrow boarding window is enough to push departures back.

Less buffer, tighter operations

One aspect that's often overlooked: airports and airlines operate with very tight buffers. Aircraft are optimally utilized and turnaround times are calculated narrowly. That saves costs, but it makes the system sensitive. A delayed boarding or slow loading leads to chain reactions. On the apron side, gates are not unlimited — those who arrive late stand in line. And the sound of trolleys, the beeping of baggage scanners and the multilingual announcements form the backdrop when things stall.

Strikes worsen the situation — and why that feels so impactful

Announced walkouts by a handling company hit the system at peak times: morning, noon and evening. Less staff means less cabin cleaning, slower check-in, delays in baggage handling. This is not just a comfort issue for travelers; it's a logistical bottleneck. Because many work steps have to take place in sequence, a weak link is enough to slow the whole chain.

What is rarely discussed

There are several factors that often get overlooked in public debate: first, the concentration on a few handling providers. If one fails, redundancy is immediately missing. Second, seasonal staffing policies: many temps are new and less experienced — that prolongs processes. Third, the planning of flight schedules themselves: airlines prefer high load factors and schedule tight connections instead of building in reserves. And fourth: the boundary between short-term disruptions and structural expansion. More flights do not automatically mean more gates, more baggage belts or more apron space.

Concrete steps that could help

There are both short-term and medium-term solutions: in the short term, airlines and the airport operator should coordinate more intensively — intelligently staggering departures during peak times would already alleviate much. Handling companies should have contingency plans with staff pools and overtime allowances. Practical tips are helpful for travelers: arrive early at the airport, keep essentials in carry-on, choose earlier connections where possible, check in luggage online or travel light.

In the medium term, investments would be needed: additional gates, modern baggage sorting systems and better IT systems for real-time communication between airlines, ground staff and passengers. Diversifying ground service providers could also reduce failure risks. And not least: fair, sustainable pay agreements with staff — strikes are often a symptom of deeper problems.

What travelers can do in practice

For those flying soon: allow extra time, check flight status regularly, keep medications and important documents in carry-on. An early connection is less susceptible to chain reactions. If you can afford it, use a lounge or book flexible fares. And a small tip from the arrivals hall: when the baggage carousel is slow, patience often helps — and a friendly look to the staff in their orange vests. They are working hard.

The situation is annoying, but so far not a cause for panic. However, it clearly shows where Palma is operating at its limits: more passengers with largely unchanged infrastructure and personnel tensions. If we don't just talk about delays but also about causes and possible solutions, the next holiday waves can hopefully be managed more calmly.