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Spain's premier international hub serving greater Madrid.
Opened
1931
Location
Madrid, Spain
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is the largest airport in Spain and one of the busiest in Europe, serving as the primary gateway to the Iberian Peninsula. Named after Spain's first democratically elected prime minister after the Franco era, it handles tens of millions of passengers annually and connects Madrid to destinations across six continents.
The airport underwent a major expansion in the 2000s, with the landmark Terminal 4 designed by architects Richard Rogers and Antonio Lamela opening in 2006. This expansion significantly increased capacity and earned international recognition for its architectural innovation, including a Stirling Prize for Rogers.
Located approximately 12 kilometres northeast of central Madrid, the airport is a key hub for Iberia and serves as an important transatlantic connecting point, particularly for flights between Europe and Latin America.
Terminals
The airport operates four main terminals (T1, T2, T3, and T4), with T4 and its satellite T4S handling the majority of Iberia and oneworld alliance traffic.
Getting to & from
The airport is connected to central Madrid via Metro Line 8, Cercanías commuter rail, airport express bus, and taxis.
Airlines here
Iberia uses Madrid–Barajas as its primary hub, while Air Europa, Vueling, and numerous international carriers including American Airlines, LATAM, and Lufthansa operate significant services here.
Notable facts
- ›Terminal 4 was designed by Richard Rogers and Antonio Lamela and won the Stirling Prize in 2006.
- ›The airport served as a hub for Spanair until the airline ceased operations in 2012.
- ›Madrid–Barajas has four parallel runways, enabling high-capacity simultaneous operations.
- ›The airport was renamed to honour Adolfo Suárez, Spain's first post-Franco democratic prime minister, in 2014.
- ›It is one of Europe's top transatlantic hubs, particularly for connections to Latin America.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
