Andorra Issues Ultimatum to Air Nostrum Over Surge in Flight Cancellations and Diversions

The Andorran government has issued an ultimatum to Air Nostrum, the Iberia subsidiary operating charter flights from Madrid and Palma de Mallorca to Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport, over a sharp rise in disruptions that has eroded passenger trust and put the contract at risk of termination.

Figures indicate 38 cancellations and diversions in the first five months of 2026—16 more than the 22 recorded throughout 2025 and 34 above the four in 2024. May proved particularly disruptive, with three incidents over the May 29–31 weekend: a Madrid flight diverted to Lleida–Alguaire on Friday due to strong winds after circling the Alt Urgell area for 10 minutes, followed by over an hour's wait before passengers were bused to Andorra; a Palma de Mallorca flight cancelled on Saturday for technical reasons; and another Madrid flight diverted on Sunday amid storms, with similar bus transfers. The Palma service resumed normally on June 1.

Airport officials called the three-day streak unprecedented or nearly so, stressing that diversion and cancellation decisions lie with the operator's assessments of safety, weather, or technical issues, despite fixed schedules. Air Nostrum maintains it routinely shares operational details with the government, a practice ongoing since commercial flights began in September 2021.

The State Secretariat for Transport and Mobility, under David Forné, has set June as a critical period to review the service, with a full assessment possible in July. Officials are examining justifications for May's problems, including cabin pressurisation failures, other technical faults, pilot experience on the short Urgell runway, and cases where the same aircraft operates other Spanish routes without issue but falters here. Repeated disruptions have exhausted user and government patience, harming the service's reputation and Andorra's appeal as a destination, sources said.

Passenger frustration is mounting, with some business travellers switching to the AVE high-speed train from Madrid for reliability. Maica Terrones, director of Viatges Emocions agency, noted corporate clients with tight schedules are avoiding the flights due to uncertainty, leading to sharp sales drops. Air Nostrum may owe passengers €250 compensation per affected flight under EU rules for journeys up to 1,500km, plus ticket refunds, unless exemptions apply for severe weather or delays under three hours to final destination. Weather caused the May 29 and 31 diversions, but technical issues on the cancelled Palma flight likely qualify for payouts.

This follows a similar 2023 episode, when Forné met Air Nostrum after three weekend diversions to Alguaire—linked to weather, technical problems, and poor planning that rerouted a return flight to Barcelona. He then stated the service fell short of agreed standards and ordered a technical review considering contract renewal. Government sources indicate the current deal, renewed in 2024, hangs in the balance pending Air Nostrum's response.