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Verdict

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) scores higher overall at 7.3/10 versus Faro Airport (FAO) at 7.2/10.

Score comparison

Metric Palma de Mallorca Airport Faro Airport
FlightLogic Score 7.3 7.2
On-Time Performance 7.0 7.0
Passenger Experience 7.2 7.1
Facilities & Comfort 7.6 7.5
Lounge Score 7.0 6.9
City Palma Faro
Country Spain Portugal
Terminals 1 main terminal (4 modules A–D) 1 terminal
Annual passengers 32M+ 9M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy PMI — Palma FAO — Faro
Rail / public transport
To city centre
Lounge day pass
Min. connection time
Primary hub carriers

Detailed profiles

Palma, Spain · PMI · #1 in this comparison

Palma de Mallorca Airport

1 main terminal (4 modules A–D) · 32M+ passengers/year

7.3 / 10

How good is Palma de Mallorca Airport?

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) scores 7.3/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.0), passenger experience (7.2), and facilities (7.6). Lounge quality rates 7.0/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Palma PMI scores 7.3/10 — the Balearics hub and among the UK's busiest Spain routes. Jet2 and TUI dominate package traffic. UK visitors complete EU Entry/Exit System biometrics on arrival and departure, so pad summer timings. See /guides/eu-ees-border-checks-uk-travellers/, /guides/best-airlines-uk-spain and /guides/palma-airport-lounge-guide.

FlightLogic Score 7.3 Very Good
On-time 7.0 Departure reliability
Experience 7.2 Staff, queues, cleanliness
Facilities 7.6 Food, shops, seating
Lounges 7.0 Lounge quality
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance
7.0
Passenger Experience
7.2
Facilities & Comfort
7.6
Lounge score 7.0/10

Highlights

  • UK's busiest Spain leisure airport in peak summer — Mallorca, Menorca ferry connections, and Ibiza transfers
  • Jet2, TUI, easyJet, Ryanair, BA, and Virgin Atlantic (seasonal) from 20+ UK airports
  • EES biometric checks for UK passports — leave extra landside time in peak months
  • Extreme peak-season congestion — arrive 2+ hours before departure; UK261 on UK-return legs
  • Priority Pass at Sala VIP lounges — pre-book essential July–August

Overview

The Balearics' primary airport — Europe's busiest leisure hub in summer with dense Jet2, TUI, easyJet, Ryanair, and BA schedules from across the UK. UK visitors now clear Schengen EES biometrics here.

UK leisure traffic

Palma handles more UK passengers than almost any other single Spanish airport in July–August. Jet2 and TUI package holidays land here alongside low-cost scheduled carriers.

For Ibiza, allow ferry or connecting flight time from PMI — do not assume same-airport transfers.

EES biometric border checks

Since October 2025, UK passport holders normally complete Entry/Exit System biometrics when arriving in and leaving the Schengen area. At a high-volume leisure gateway like PMI, that means more landside time than pre-Brexit stamp-and-go — especially when several inbound banks arrive together.

Use FlightLogic’s buffer checklist at /guides/eu-ees-border-checks-uk-travellers/. Do not confuse EES with ETIAS — the online authorisation is still not open to apply.

Faro, Portugal · FAO · #2 in this comparison

Faro Airport

1 terminal · 9M+ passengers/year

7.2 / 10

How good is Faro Airport?

Faro Airport (FAO) scores 7.2/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.0), passenger experience (7.1), and facilities (7.5). Lounge quality rates 6.9/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Faro FAO scores 7.2/10 — Algarve leisure gateway. Compare /airports/lisbon for city breaks. See /guides/best-airlines-uk-portugal-greece and /guides/faro-airport-lounge-guide.

FlightLogic Score 7.2 Very Good
On-time 7.0 Departure reliability
Experience 7.1 Staff, queues, cleanliness
Facilities 7.5 Food, shops, seating
Lounges 6.9 Lounge quality
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance
7.0
Passenger Experience
7.1
Facilities & Comfort
7.5
Lounge score 6.9/10

Highlights

  • Primary UK gateway to Algarve resorts — Albufeira, Lagos, Vilamoura within 45–90 min drive
  • Jet2 and TUI package traffic dominates alongside Ryanair and easyJet
  • Compact single terminal — straightforward navigation; summer queues at security
  • UK261 on UK-return flights

Overview

Algarve gateway — Jet2, TUI, easyJet, Ryanair, and BA leisure schedules from across the UK for Portugal's southern coast.

Algarve access

Pre-book transfers — public transport to western Algarve resorts is limited. Taxi and Uber available landside.

Peak UK bank holiday weeks (Easter, half-term) see 90+ min security queues — arrive early.

More comparisons

Compare Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) against 59 other airports
Compare Faro Airport (FAO) against 59 other airports

FAQ

Which is better, Palma de Mallorca Airport or Faro Airport?

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) scores higher overall at 7.3/10 versus Faro Airport (FAO) at 7.2/10.

Which has better lounges, PMI or FAO?

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) scores higher for lounges at 7.0/10, versus Faro Airport at 6.9/10.

Which airport is more on-time, PMI or FAO?

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) has stronger on-time performance at 7.0/10 versus Faro Airport (FAO) at 7.0/10.