
Madrid's main airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, commonly referred to as Madrid Airport (MAD) or simply Barajas. Located 8-13km from the city centre, it is one of the largest airports in Spain and Europe, serving as a major gateway to the city of Madrid. With a rich history dating back to the 1920s, Madrid's main airport has grown to become a crucial aviation hub, welcoming over 50 million travellers annually.
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The airport is officially named Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport
The main airport in Madrid is officially named Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD). The airport, which first opened in 1931, is located within 9-13km of the city's financial district and historic centre. It is the second-largest airport in Europe by physical size, covering 7,500 acres. In 2019, 61.8 million passengers travelled through Madrid–Barajas, making it the country's busiest airport and Europe's fifth busiest.
The airport's name derives from the adjacent district of Barajas, which has its own metro station on the same rail line serving the airport. Barajas serves as the gateway to the Iberian peninsula from the rest of Europe and is a key link to Latin America. Madrid Airport has excellent transport links to the city centre, which is just 12km away, via taxi, private transfer, metro, bus, and train. EMT (Madrid Municipal Transport Company) runs regular public bus services between the airport and Madrid, including an express bus linking the airport to Atocha Station, Madrid's main rail station.
Madrid–Barajas Airport has five passenger terminals: T1, T2, T3, T4, and T4S. Terminal 4, designed by a team of award-winning architects, is one of the world's largest airport terminals, with separate landside and airside structures covering a total of 760,000 square meters. The new Terminal 4 features an abundance of natural light and is designed to provide passengers with a stress-free experience. Both domestic and international flights arrive or depart from T4, while T4S serves non-Schengen destinations.
In March 2014, the airport was renamed Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas in honour of Adolfo Suárez, the first democratically elected Spanish prime minister after Franco's dictatorship. The airport is a hub for Iberia and Air Europa and serves as a focus city for Ryanair and Iberojet. It handles a vast number of airlines and is considered one of the most important aviation centres in Europe. Madrid–Barajas Airport offers a wide range of services, including children's areas, restaurants, shops, car rentals, and nearby hotels.
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It is one of the busiest airports in Europe
The main airport serving Madrid, Spain, is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD). It is one of the busiest airports in Europe, handling the greatest amount of air traffic in Spain. In 2019, 61.8 million passengers travelled through Madrid–Barajas, making it the country's busiest airport and Europe's fifth busiest. The airport has also ranked as the fourth busiest airport in Europe and the world's eleventh busiest. As of 2022, Madrid–Barajas serves more than 50 million passengers annually.
Madrid–Barajas Airport is located 9 km (6 mi) from Madrid's financial district and 13 km (8 mi) from the city's historic centre. The airport serves as a gateway to the Iberian peninsula from the rest of Europe and the world and is a key link to Latin America. It is the primary hub for Iberia and Air Europa, with Iberia responsible for more than 40% of Barajas's traffic. Madrid–Barajas Airport also serves as a focus city for Ryanair and Iberojet.
The airport has five passenger terminals: T1, T2, T3, T4, and T4S. Terminal 4, designed by a team of renowned architects, is one of the world's largest airport terminals, with 760,000 square meters of floor space. It features careful use of illumination, with glass panes instead of walls and numerous skylights to allow natural light into the structure. With the addition of Terminal 4, Madrid–Barajas is designed to handle 70 million passengers annually.
Madrid–Barajas Airport offers a wide range of services for travellers, including children's areas, coffee shops, restaurants, pharmacies, a chapel, post offices, banks, car rentals, bookstores, kiosks, shops, and car parking. There is also a permanent space reserved for the exhibition of artistic works, with the aim of promoting culture and tourism in Madrid. The airport has excellent transport links to the city, with regular public bus services, metro, train, and taxi connections.
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It is located 8-13km from Madrid city centre
The main airport in Madrid, Spain, is the Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD). It is located 8-13km from Madrid city centre, in the district of Barajas, from which it derives its name. The airport is easily accessible by public transport, with EMT (Madrid Municipal Transport Company) providing regular bus services to and from the city. Bus 200, for example, runs as a complete line, dropping passengers off at the departures of terminals 1, 2 and 4, and collecting passengers in the reverse order at arrivals. EMT also provides an express bus that links the airport to Renfe's Atocha Station, Madrid's main rail station, during the day, and Plaza Cibeles at night. This line operates 24 hours a day, all year round.
The airport is also well-connected to the city via the metro. The Barajas district, where the airport is located, has its own metro station on the same rail line serving the airport. Additionally, CRTM (Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid) operates four bus services between the airport and nearby cities in the metropolitan area. Taxis and private transfers are also available for those who prefer a more direct mode of transportation to and from the airport.
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is conveniently located, making it easily accessible for travellers. Its proximity to the city centre, excellent transport links, and wide range of services make it a convenient gateway to Madrid and the surrounding region. The airport handles a significant amount of air traffic, serving as a hub for numerous airlines and accommodating both domestic and international flights.
The airport has five passenger terminals: T1, T2, T3, T4, and T4S. Terminal 4, designed by a renowned team of architects, is one of the world's largest airport terminals, with separate landside and airside structures covering a total area of 760,000 square meters. The careful use of illumination, with glass panes instead of walls and numerous skylights, creates a stress-free environment for passengers. With the addition of Terminal 4, the airport is designed to handle up to 70 million passengers annually.
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The airport has four terminals and a satellite terminal
The main airport in Madrid, Spain, is the Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD). It is located 9 kilometres (6 miles) from the city's financial district and 13 kilometres (8 miles) from the historic centre. The airport was constructed in 1927 and opened to domestic and international air traffic in 1931, although regular commercial operations only began two years later.
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport has four terminals (T1, T2, T3, and T4) and a satellite terminal (T4S). Terminal 4, designed by a team of renowned architects and engineers, was inaugurated in 2006 and is one of the world's largest airport terminals in terms of area, with 760,000 square meters of separate landside and airside structures. The main building, T4, spans 470,000 square meters, while the satellite building, T4S, covers 290,000 square meters and is located approximately 2 kilometres away.
The airport's original name was Madrid–Barajas Airport, and it was renamed in 2014 after Adolfo Suárez, the first democratically elected Spanish prime minister. The airport serves as the primary hub and maintenance base for Iberia and Air Europa, with Iberia responsible for more than 40% of its traffic.
The airport offers a wide range of services and facilities for passengers, including children's areas, restaurants, coffee shops, pharmacies, a chapel, post offices, banks, car rentals, bookstores, shops, and car parking. EMT (Madrid Municipal Transport Company) provides regular public bus services between the airport and the city, connecting passengers to different terminals.
With its growth over the years, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport has become one of Europe's most important aviation centres and is now designed to handle up to 70 million passengers annually.
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It is accessible via metro, bus, train, taxi and private transfer
The main airport serving Madrid, the capital city of Spain, is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD). It is located 13km (8 miles) from the city centre, in the district of Barajas, from which it derives its name. The airport is easily accessible via metro, bus, train, taxi, and private transfer.
The metro station serving the airport is located on the same rail line as the Barajas station, which is in the adjacent district. EMT (Madrid Municipal Transport Company) runs regular public bus services between the airport and Madrid (Avenida de América station). Bus 200 serves terminals 1, 2, and 4, while the EMT public night bus service N4 connects Madrid downtown (Plaza Cibeles) to Barajas. EMT also operates an express bus that runs 24 hours a day, connecting the airport to Renfe's Atocha Station, Madrid's main rail station.
Additionally, CRTM (Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid) provides four bus services between the airport and nearby cities in the metropolitan area. The airport is also accessible by train, with Renfe's Atocha Station serving as the main rail connection to the city. For those who prefer a more private mode of transportation, taxis and private transfer services are available to and from the airport.
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is a bustling hub, serving over 50 million travellers annually. It offers a range of facilities, including parking, children's areas, restaurants, shops, car rentals, and medical services. With its excellent transport links and wide range of services, the airport provides a convenient gateway to the city of Madrid and its surrounding regions.
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Frequently asked questions
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, also known as Madrid Airport (MAD), is the main airport in Madrid.
The airport is located about 8-13 km from the city centre.
You can get to the airport from the city centre by taxi, bus, private transfer, or metro (Line 8).
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is the busiest airport in Spain, handling over 50 million passengers annually. It is also one of the top 5 busiest airports in Europe and one of the top 20 busiest globally.
The airport offers duty-free shopping, dining options, relax lounges, VIP lounges, banks, police services, free Wi-Fi, children's areas, pharmacies, a chapel, post offices, car rentals, bookstores, kiosks, shops, car parking, and nearby hotels.







































