Malaga Airport is preparing for one of its busiest weekends of the year, travellers have been warned.

More than 2,500 flights are scheduled as thousands of holidaymakers head home while others return to work.

A total of 2,507 arrivals and departures are scheduled between Friday, August 28 and Monday, August 31, coinciding with the final weekend of the month and Spain’s traditional end-of-summer operacion retorno.

The surge forms part of an exceptionally busy few days across Spain, with 29,592 flights scheduled throughout Aena’s national airport network.

That represents an increase of 2.6% compared with the equivalent period last year, when 28,826 operations were recorded.

Sunday to be busiest

The busiest day nationally will be Sunday, August 30, when 7,492 flights are scheduled across Spain.

Saturday will see 7,434 operations, while 7,433 are planned for Friday. Another 7,233 flights are scheduled for Monday as the August getaway draws to a close.

The figures cover both departures and arrivals.

Madrid-Barajas will be Spain’s busiest airport, handling 4,972 flights over the four-day period, up from 4,671 during the equivalent period in 2025.

Its busiest individual day will be Friday, when 1,266 operations are scheduled.

Barcelona-El Prat follows with 4,421 flights, while Palma de Mallorca is expecting 4,053.

Malaga’s 2,507 scheduled operations underline the importance of the Costa del Sol airport during the peak summer travel period.

Further along Spain’s Mediterranean coast, Alicante-Elche Airport will handle 1,779 flights, with Saturday expected to be its busiest day.

The surge in air traffic comes alongside an exceptionally busy weekend on the roads as the end of August triggers a major return-home operation across Spain.

In Malaga province alone, traffic authorities are expecting more than 308,000 road journeys.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.