Coming to the Costa del Sol in high season? Here you find Malaga airport news for August 2026 and further useful information.
Malaga Airport – Most car hire pick-ups in Europe
The trend of car hire at the most popular destinations has remained fairly stable in recent years, with Malaga Airport taking the top spot in both winter and summer.
According to a recently published report, Malaga airport is the most used car hire pick-up point in Europe. Malaga airport is continually breaking its own records when it comes to the number of passengers arriving on the Costa del Sol.
A large number of these travellers are also interested in having a vehicle at their disposal with which to travel around the province on the days they visit. This has made Malaga airport the most used car hire pick-up point in Europe.
The report reveals that it is the British, who account for almost 30% of passenger traffic in this infrastructure on the Costa del Sol, who demand rentacar services the most in Europe.
They are followed by French residents, while Germans are in third place. These three markets are precisely the main international issuers of tourists to the province.
Trusted car rental at Malaga Airport: MalagaCar.com
Are you looking for a trustworthy car rental at Malaga Airport?
We can personally recommend Malagacar.com. It is one of the best car hire companies at Malaga Airport in terms of trustworthiness, first class cars, excellent rates & customer service. It is a reputable, Malaga-based company, with more than 25 years of experience working at Malaga airport.
As it is Malaga-based, the company has one of the best Malaga Tourism websites offering extensive additional information about Malaga & Costa del Sol, travel tips, events and much more in their Blog.
Other recommended transport options in August
A good option if you don’t want to drive in Malaga in August or rely on public transport:
You can pre-book your journey with taxi companies with multilingual drivers, which offer a more personal service, for instance:
Historic August at Malaga Airport
As mentioned before, every year Malaga airport surpasses its own previously set records regarding passenger volume and flights to Malaga this summer 2026.
The high season in Malaga runs from July to September, however, it is the month of August that brings the most tourists in search of sun and beach.
So, for the first weekend of August, the Costa del Sol aerodrome has scheduled some 1,200 operations for Saturday and Sunday at the start of the busiest month for tourism. That is, it registers a flight every two and a half minutes.
Historic numbers year after year
Malaga airport in 2023 beated the passenger record wit a total of 22 million passengers. In 2024, the airport reached the historic figure of almost 25 million passengers. In 2026 it was already 26.76 million passengers. And the forecast for this year is for it to reach 28 million.
The market with the highest demand continues to be the British market, followed by the German and Dutch
Strong US interest in Malaga
US travellers are showing an increasing interest in Malaga, both for tourism and residence.
Malaga has become a popular destination for American tourists, with a notable increase in visits and overnight stays especially during the months of May to September.
During these months this year are available daily direct flights New York-Costa del Sol with United Airlines.
Passport control for flights from Italy arriving in Malaga
Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport, along with other national airports, will step up border controls for passengers arriving on flights from Italy. This measure has also been implemented at the airports of Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, Valencia, Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, these checks are part of the temporary reintroduction of inspections on air and maritime connections between Spain and Italy. This decision has been made in response to evolving migratory pressure along the central Mediterranean route.
Each plane arriving from Italy is attended by two to four border police officers. Checks are carried out “at the aircraft door,” right at the exit of the boarding bridge. This way, passengers do not have to be generally diverted to the facilities designated for external border control.
Inspections are conducted on a random basis, with officers checking the documentation of between 5% and 10% of travellers to verify compliance with the requirements set out in the Schengen Borders Code.
The controls will remain in effect until September 7.
Indefinite strike by aircraft cleaning staff at Malaga Airport
You might find that the plane isn’t as clean as usual when traveling back these days.
The staff responsible for cleaning aircraft and other facilities at Malaga Airport has launched an indefinite strike.
The impact of the strike may become more noticeable as the dispute progresses, since it will not be possible to cover all shifts or clean every aircraft.
Our tips for your trip home: Allow plenty of time
Especially in high season there may be unforeseeable but very probable incidents and delays:
- Traffic jams on the main access roads to the airport.
Accidents on the roads. - Delays or cancellations on the Malaga suburban train.
- Overcrowded carriages due to these cancellations or due to the huge influx of people at the Malaga fair in August.
- Broken escalators at the airport’s suburban train station.
- Long queues at the security filter.
- And also considerable queues at passport control for non-Schengen flights.
With all this in mind, we recommend you allow plenty of extra time to get to your boarding area without too much stress or suffering considerable heat. Once there, there are plenty of bars, cafés and restaurants where you can cool off with a cold drink.
Non-Schengen Flights
Non-EU / Biometric Requirements
If you are flying to a non-Schengen destination (such as the UK, Ireland, the US, or the Middle East) from Malaga Airport you have to pass through a mandatory Border Passport Control.
• Entry/Exit System (EES): Non-EU passport holders (including UK citizens) will have to use automated biometric kiosks before reaching border control.
While these are supposed to speed up processing, in fact they create bottlenecks that require extra patience and time. This is even more the case during high-traffic periods.
If it is your first time going through the new system at Malaga Airport, familiarize yourself thoroughly with the necessary steps beforehand.
Because you must clear both standard airport security and international border checks, you are highly vulnerable to compounding delays.
Our recommendatios
Strict Timing Rule
- Arrive exactly 3 hours before your flight: Do not attempt a shorter window. Airline check-in desks for non-Schengen flights (especially long-haul routes or busy UK/Ireland corridors) experience intense congestion.
The Double-Queue Trap
Queue 1 (Security Checkpoint): All passengers enter through the main security hub in Terminal 3. In peak summer, this line routinely backs up.
- Tip: You can bypass this specific line by purchasing a Fast Lane pass online via the Aena VIP Services Website for € 11.10 (price June 2026). You can purchase your access in advance via the official Aena VIP Services website.
Queue 2 (Passport Control): After clearing security and walking through the duty-free shop, you must head toward the non-Schengen gates. At the Biometric Kiosks you encounter a massive bottleneck that can take 30 to 60 minutes alone.
High season Malaga Airport – What to consider
- Check out our related article High season at Malaga Airport with plenty of useful tips to make your journey through the airport facilities as smooth as possible.
We tell you everything about: Airport amenities, Vip Lounge, Fast Track, Security check, Border Passport Control and much more!
