One of the busiest airports in Spain has announced a €1.5 billion expansion plan that’ll include a new zone for Brits arriving for their holidays.

Over 14 million people visited the Málaga province in 2024 alone, including nearly 1.2 million Brits. In recent months, there have been reports of long queues at the airport as the EES (Entry/Exit System) comes into force. Over the busy Christmas period, Ryanair passengers were advised to allow extra time due to delays.

Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is set to make a number of improvements to its facilities, unveiling plans that include better baggage handling systems, more parking, and an overall increase to passenger capacity to keep up with demand. The improvements are set to be made between 2027 and 2031.

There’s also good news for Brits passing through the airport. The plans show a larger security zone with a large, separate area for non-Schengen passengers. Since Brexit, this group includes British passport holders, and the improvements could make the journey through the airport a lot faster and smoother for holidaymakers.

There will also be a 41% increase in commercial space available at the airport, which could mean more shops and restaurants, and a variety of cosmetic improvements to the interior and exterior of the airport are planned. 

Málaga Airport welcomed a record-breaking 26.8 million passengers in 2025, and it’s Spain’s fourth busiest airport, coming in behind Madrid, Barcelona, and Majorca.

The airport is about a 15-minute drive from the centre of Málaga, a popular spot for city breaks, as well as being close to beach towns such as Benalmádena and Torremolinos on the sunny Costa Del Sol. About 40 minutes away is Marbella, a city known for its luxury hotels and villas where you’ll often spot celebrities stepping off of their yachts.

Its proximity to so many popular destinations means the airport can be extremely busy during peak travel times. News outlet SUR in English reported that at peak times passengers were facing delays of more than two hours, as well as issues with baggage handling.

However, on a Facebook group for visitors to Málaga, there were mixed opinions on whether the airport was handling passenger traffic. One person said “December arrivals was horrendous”, while another claimed there was “No queue when we went in December”, and others agreed that the process to get through the airport had been smooth.

Passengers flying from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport are still being advised to arrive at least two hours in advance for flights to the UK, and should keep up to date with any changes from their airline before they fly.

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