The international airport Barajas in Spain is named after the first head of the government of democratic Spain, Adolfo Suarez. Its full name sounds like this - the airport of Madrid Barajas named after Adolfo Suárez (Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez, Madrid-Barajas). The facility includes as many as four terminals, the last one was opened in 2008. Its area is 760 thousand square meters. Barajas is one of the top 5 airports in Europe in terms of occupancy; more than 146 thousand passengers use the services of this infrastructure facility every week.
History of discovery and development
Barajas rightfully owns the status of the oldest airport in Spain. It was here, in Madrid, back in 1931 that an airliner landed, and the first passengers who arrived in Spain descended the ladder.
Commercial shipping was launched two years later. The first small terminal for 30 thousand people had to be immediately expanded and then supplemented with new check-in points.
The air harbor is located in the northeastern part of Madrid, in the Barajas district of the same name, 12 kilometers from the city center. Until 2021, the airport was called Barajas, then the name of the first prime minister of democratic Spain was added to its official name.
Eurostat ranks Madrid international airport among the five most popular and demanded in Europe: according to the agency, in 2021 alone, passenger traffic in all four terminals reached 30 million people. The current workload reaches 45 million people.
There are flights from Barajas to the Canary Islands, Europe, Latin America and the United States of America. There are two flights daily from Madrid Airport to Russia.
Airlines that the airport works with
We will not be able to list all airlines, since their number exceeds a hundred. Here are some of the carriers operating in Barajas - this list gives you an idea of the latitude in flights from the airport.
- Aegean Airlines / "Aegean Airlines": flights are carried out to Athens (Greece) on Airbus, the carrier is based in terminal 2, ground floor, check-in hall 6.
- Aer Lingus is a popular low-cost airline from Ireland that offers flights in economy class. Carries out passenger transportation from Dublin, Belfast and Gatwick to the cities of continental Europe. In Barajas, based at Terminal 1.
- Aeroflot: flights to Moscow, Sheremetyevo from Terminal 1.
- Aerolíneas Argentinas: Flights to Buenos Aires from Terminal 1.
- Aeroméxico: Flights to Mexico City from Terminal 1.
- Algerian Airlines: Air travel to Algeria from Terminal 4.
- Air Arabia Maroc - to Tangier, Morocco from Terminal 1.
- Air Canada: route Madrid-Quebec, Madrid-Ottawa, Terminal 1.
- Air China flies from the first terminal of Barajas Airport to Beijing (China), Sao Paulo and several other Brazilian cities, depending on the season.
- Air Europa: check-in points for non-Schengen countries are located at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. European Airlines operates flights to many EU capitals and, in agreement with Etihad Airways, operates three flights a week from Madrid to Abu Dhabi. Together with Virgin Australia, it offers flights to Asia, North, South and Central America and Australia.
- French Airlines: flights to Paris (Charles de Gaulle) from Terminal 2.
- Air India: flights on the route Madrid-Delhi, terminal number 1.
- Air Moldova flies from Madrid to Chisinau, Terminal 1.
- Air Nostrum, whose liners depart from Terminal 4. It is the largest regional air carrier in Spain, offering the widest range of offers on the domestic market, as well as short international flights.
- Air Transat, flights from Madrid to Calgary, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Vancouver (Terminal 1). From Canada, planes fly to destinations around the world.
- AirBaltic is a Latvian company established in 1995. It offers flights to Paris, Munich, Odessa, Tampere (Finland), Kazan (Russia), Aberdeen (Scotland), Stavanger (Norway), Abu Dhabi and, of course, Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn from Terminal 4.
- Alitalia is an Italian airline with flights to Rome and Milan departing from Terminal 2.
- American Airlines operates daily flights to Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia and New York from Barajas Terminal 4.
- Avianca: Flights to Colombia from Terminal 4.
Popular flight destinations
The lion's share of passenger traffic at a modern airport is still associated with domestic flights, and the Madrid-Barcelona route is still one of the ten most demanded.
True, the number of passengers on this route decreased slightly after the opening of the railway from Madrid to Barcelona in 2007.
In addition, routes from Madrid to European capitals remain mega-popular: Paris, Vienna, Berlin, London, Rome, Prague, Bern, Stockholm and Oslo.
Passengers fly actively from Barajas to Eastern Europe, for example, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Lithuania.
Flights to Australia, Brazil and Mexico, as well as to cities in the United States of America, are in high demand.
Airport terminals
Barajas includes four terminals, which are encoded T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively.
T4S is located separately with two docks - business aircraft land here and a cargo terminal functions.
The first three terminals each have six standard boarding zones, they are designated A, B, C, D, E and F. The newest, the fourth terminal, includes two buildings that are connected by an unmanned train operated by workers from a distance.
Terminal T1
It serves the companies Aeroflot, Air Canada, Aeromexico, Delta Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Lufthansa, about forty air carriers in total. In 1999, the Southern Dock for cargo transportation was completed near the terminal.
The exits of the first terminal are located:
- floor Р0, zone А: A1-A2, A9-A12;
- floor Р1, zone А: A2-A8, A13-A14;
- floor Р1, zone В: B18-B33;
- floor Р1, zone С: C30-C42.
Terminal T2
The very first terminal, which was once designed for 30,000 passengers. Today it is used for domestic flights by Spanish companies and also serves the Schengen area. Air Europa, Air Berlin, Alitalia and others depart from here.
Terminal T2 outputs:
- floor Р1, zone С: C43-C50;
- floor Р1, zone D: D53-D66.
Terminal T3
Located in the North Dock, it is focused on domestic flights, connected to Terminal 2.
Terminal T3 outputs:
- floor P0, zone F: F90-F94;
- floor P1, zone E: E67-E82.
Terminal T4
When the first three terminals had been operating for more than seventy years, it became necessary to open another check-in point. This is how Terminal 4 appeared, launched by the Spanish Airports and Air Navigation Agency. The capacity of the new facility is 70 million passengers per year. More than 7 million euros were spent on construction. The T4 buildings and its satellite T4S are connected by an automatic subway.
Terminal T4 outputs:
- floor Р1, zone H: H1-H30;
- floor Р1, zone J: J40-J59;
- floor Р1, zone К: K69-K98;
- floor P0, zone M: M22-M51
- floor Р1, zone R: R1-R18;
- floor Р1, zone S: S23-S48;
- floor Р1, zone U: U55-U74
Serves domestic flights, routes across Europe (both within the Schengen area and beyond).
Transport links between terminals
For the convenience of passengers, a free shuttle bus has been launched between the terminals; it runs without days off and without breaks.
The frequency varies depending on the time of day: from 6.30 to 23.30 buses run every 5 minutes, at night (from 23.00 to 02.30) the interval increases to 10 minutes.
In the most “unloaded” time - from 02.30 to 06.30 shuttles leave every 20 minutes. Buses run independently from each other on the route from the fourth to the first terminal and back.
Bus stops on the route T1-T4:
- Terminal 1, Departures, South Dock.
- Terminal 2, Departures, South Dock.
- Terminal 3 - no stop.
- Terminal 4, departure area.
Shuttle stops on the route T4-T1:
- Terminal 4, arrivals area.
- Terminal 3, arrivals area.
- Terminal 2, arrivals area.
- Terminal 1, budget parking, south dock.
- Terminal 1, departure area.
Airport transportation scheme (between terminals).
Additionally, there is a bus on the territory of the airport, free for all clients with boarding passes. Suitable for passengers traveling to countries outside of Schengen with tickets in halls 1 and 2 of terminals 1 and 4, for passengers flying to the Schengen area with tickets in hall 1 in terminal 1.
The bus leaves from Hall 1 of Terminal 1 to Hall 6 of Terminal 2 every 20 minutes, and from Hall 6 of Terminal 2 to Hall 1 of Terminal 1 every 20 minutes. Stops are provided in the baggage claim and baggage claim areas (upon request).
Bus from parking to terminals
Designed for passengers who have left their cars in a long-term parking lot. There are two different routes to each of the operating terminals.
- From 06.00 to 00.00 on the route parking - terminal 4, floor 0, arrivals area.
- From 06.00 to 00.00 on the route parking – terminal 1, arrivals – terminal 1, departure – terminal 2, arrivals – terminal 2, departures – terminal 3, arrivals.
Services at the airport
Barajas offers its customers the opportunity to connect to the Internet for free from a mobile, laptop or tablet. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi. In addition, a premium access has been implemented, which differs from the free one by the absence of ads and high speed.
You can pay for the Internet online by connecting to it and choosing the appropriate tariff plan. For example: 24 hours of internet without speed limits costs almost 5 euros.
Luggage storage for T1, T2 and T3 is located in the first terminal (floor 0, arrivals area, opposite hall 2). Another left-luggage office is located in the arrivals area of Terminal 4, also on the ground floor. All things left by passengers are checked at the checkpoint using an X-ray.
Luggage storage rates:
- up to 2 hours - 6 euros,
- up to 24 hours - 10 euros,
- up to 7 days - 50 euros,
- up to 14 days - 60 euros.
There are many currency exchange offices, ATMs and banks on the territory of the airport, there are post offices, lost property offices, chapels, separate counters in each terminal for people with disabilities, VIP lounges and much more.
Tax free
Barajas airport has a tax-free option, but it has some peculiarities. On the start day, the passenger must make a purchase for at least € 90.20 at a store that has signed a Tax Free Agreement. The original of the check is stamped. This can be done before registration or after (but before going through security and passport control).
Go to the kiosks where the tax is refunded. In Madrid, such kiosks are located in the duty-free zone, in T1 on the ground floor (near passport control), in T4 (to the left of the security checkpoint).
Please note that Tax Free points do not work around the clock (from 07.00 to 23.00), except for the kiosk at T4.
Then, with the check, you need to go to the La Caixa bank (terminal T1, ground floor) or to the Global Blue operator - at T1 or T4.
Online board of arrival / departure
Each terminal is equipped with an arrival and departure board, where the timetable is displayed. Time is local. For aircraft expected in Barajas, the statuses are “arrived”, “awaiting” and “delayed”. If the plane departs from Madrid, then the statuses can change as follows: “landing”, “delayed”, departed / departed ”.
How to get to the airport
You can get to the airport by taxi, metro, bus and using the services of a suburban train. Car rental is carried out on the territory of Barajas, so that arriving passengers can leave any terminal on their own.
An expensive but quick way to get to Barajas is by taxi. If a passenger orders a taxi, they will drop him off at one of the specialized parking lots near T4 arrivals, T1 arrivals, T2 arrivals.
You can get to the airport by taking a car somewhere in the center for 35-40 euros. The minimum cost of the trip is 22 euros.
A more economical alternative is the express bus from Madrid (from Atocha Station, with stops at Plaza Cibeles and Calle O'Donell) to Barajas. The journey takes 40 minutes and will cost only 5 euros. The buses are easy to spot as they are painted bright yellow. The route is indicated on the windshield.
Don't forget about the metro: you can get to Barajas if you go down to the metro in the business center of the city. Need Nuevos Ministerios station (line 8)
By underground transport, passengers get to the airport in 15 minutes. Please note that the train follows not only to terminals 1, 2 and 3, but also to the 4th - this is the last station. The trip will cost 5 euros.
Airport Help Desk
Phone: + 34 (91) 321-10-00
Address: Aeropuerto Internacional de Madrid-Barajas, 28042 Madrid, Espana
Madrid-Barajas airport codes: IATA - MAD, ICAO - LEMD
The official website is updated in real time, where you can reserve a ticket, see the departure and arrival times of any flight, as well as the rules for registration and reservations. The site is not translated into Russian, it is possible to get acquainted with the data in English and Spanish.
Conclusion
Barajas Airport is a modern air harbor that allows you to travel from Madrid to almost anywhere in the world.
The airport cooperates with about a hundred companies, serves civil, business and cargo aviation. It is in the top 5 in terms of occupancy in Europe.
The airport consists of 4 modern terminals, offers a wide range of additional services and a convenient transport system between the terminals. A convenient departure and arrival board is provided.
