Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD)

Madrid, ES 🇪🇸 Large International Airport Scheduled Service

ICAO

LEMD

IATA

MAD

Elevation

1998 ft

Region

ES-MD

Local Time

Airport Information

GPS Code: LEMD

Local Code: Not available

Location: 40.471926° N, -3.56264° E

Continent: EU

Type: Large International Airport

Keywords: Leganés Madrid Barajas International Airport

Arrivals

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Departures

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External Links

Official Website Wikipedia Live Flights

Nearby Points of Interest

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What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Recent traveler reviews for Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (LEMD (MAD)) indicate a mixed but generally satisfactory experience. While the airport is recognized as a 4-Star facility and a significant international hub, common pain points remain, particularly concerning clarity of navigation and efficiency during peak times. Overall sentiment suggests appreciation for its modern aspects and connectivity, offset by frustration with certain operational challenges.

What Travelers Love

Modern Infrastructure: Newer terminals like T4 and T4S are praised for their appealing, contemporary architecture and spacious design.
Connectivity Hub: The airport is an excellent transit hub, especially for Latin American destinations, offering a wide range of international flights.
Public Transportation: Madrid–Barajas boasts convenient and efficient public transport links to the city center, notably the Metro Line 8, which reaches the center in about 30 minutes. Taxis and ride-shares are also readily available.
Shopping and Dining Options: The airport provides a good selection of shops and food & beverage options, contributing to a good overall convenience for travelers.
Dedicated Cleaning Staff: Several reviews commend the cleaning staff for maintaining reasonable cleanliness in many areas of the airport.

Common Complaints

Confusing Signage and Wayfinding: Many travelers report weak, confusing, and contradictory signage, making it easy to get lost, especially when navigating between terminals or finding specific gates/exits. The sheer size of the airport exacerbates this issue.
Inadequate Seating and Charging Facilities: There is a frequent complaint about the woeful inadequacy of seating at departure gates, forcing many to sit on the floor. Furthermore, a significant number of USB terminals and power outlets are reported as non-functional or poorly placed.
Security and Immigration Wait Times: Experiences are inconsistent; while some find security quick, others describe long and chaotic lines for both security and passport control. Staff shortages at passport control in July 2025 led to wait times of up to an hour and missed flights. A security strike in September 2025 also caused waits up to 95 minutes. Current reported security wait times can vary significantly.
Staff Language Barrier and Helpfulness: Some passengers report encountering unhelpful staff who do not speak English, particularly at security and information desks, which is frustrating in an international airport.
Baggage Claim Delays: Several travelers experienced excessive wait times for baggage retrieval, with some reporting waits of 1.5 hours.

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport offers strong connections and modern facilities in its newer sections, but travelers should prepare for potential challenges with navigation, especially due to its large size. It is advisable to arrive with ample time for security and immigration, particularly during peak travel periods, and be aware that amenities like seating and charging points might be limited or non-functional in some areas.

Generated False weeks ago

This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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Airport Routes

Top Routes (by observations)

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Popular Flight Routes

Building Route Index: We are building our route index for commercial airports. Currently 456 routes are indexed for Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport. For real-time updates, admin access is required.

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Top Airlines

Operating at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport

Airlines by Flight Activity

Based on observed flight operations and route network

Airline	Routes	Flights	Destinations	Last Activity
Iberia `IBE` / `IB`	77	517	77	Dec 11, 2025
Ryanair `RYR` / `FR`	58	444	58	Dec 10, 2025
Air Nostrum `ANE` / `YW`	49	366	49	Dec 10, 2025
Air Europa `AEA` / `UX`	46	229	46	Dec 11, 2025
Swiftair `SWT` / `WT`	4	175	4	Dec 11, 2025
Iberia Express `IBS` / `I2`	20	170	20	Dec 11, 2025
Air Europa Express `OVA` / `X5`	19	86	19	Dec 11, 2025
Lufthansa `DLH` / `LH`	2	64	2	Dec 9, 2025
Air France `AFR` / `AF`	1	55	1	Dec 9, 2025
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines `KLM` / `KL`	1	49	1	Dec 5, 2025

Showing top 10 airlines by flight activity. Data includes observed departures and route networks from this airport.

For Pilots

Designation	Length	Width	Surface	Status
`14L/32R`	11483 ft	197 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`14R/32L`	13084 ft	197 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`18L/36R`	11483 ft	197 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`18R/36L`	13711 ft	197 ft	ASP	Active Lighted

Type	Description	Frequency
APP	MADRID APP	`127.5 MHz`
ATIS	ATIS	`118.25 MHz`
ATIS DEP	ATIS Departure	`130.85 MHz`
CLD	Delivery East	`130.075 MHz`
CLD	Delivery West	`130.35 MHz`
EMR	FIRE	`122.975 MHz`
GND	GND	`121.85 MHz`
TWR	TWR 36L	`118.07 MHz`
TWR	TWR 14R	`118.15 MHz`
TWR	TWR 36R	`118.67 MHz`
TWR	TWR 14L	`118.975 MHz`

Ident	Name	Type	Frequency
`ACD`	Alcobendas	NDB	`417 kHz`
`BRA`	Barajas	VOR-DME	`116450 kHz`
`PDT`	Perales	VOR-DME	`116950 kHz`
`SSY`	S.S.rRyes	VOR-DME	`117850 kHz`

Ground Transportation

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025

Taxis

Official city taxis are available 24/7 from the taxi ranks outside the arrivals areas of all terminals (T1, T2, T3, T4). They are white with a red stripe on the door. A flat rate of €33 applies for trips to or from the city center (any destination inside the M-30 ring road). Ride-sharing services like Uber, Cabify, and Bolt are also available and have designated pickup areas.

Rental Cars

Major car rental companies, including Avis, Hertz, Europcar, and Sixt, have desks in the arrivals halls of Terminal 1 and Terminal 4. It is advisable to book your vehicle in advance, especially during peak seasons. After completing the paperwork at the desk, you can collect your car from the nearby parking facilities.

Public Transportation

The airport has excellent public transport links.
- Metro: Line 8 (pink line) connects all terminals to the Nuevos Ministerios station in the city center in about 15-20 minutes. An airport supplement fee is required in addition to a standard ticket.
- Bus: The 24/7 'Exprés Aeropuerto' (Airport Express Bus) provides a direct service between the airport (T1, T2, T4) and Atocha train station (daytime) and Plaza de Cibeles (nighttime) for a flat fee of €5. Regular city buses (like Line 200 to Avenida de América) also serve the airport.
- Train (Renfe Cercanías): Lines C-1 and C-10 connect Terminal 4 to key city train stations, including Chamartín, Nuevos Ministerios, and Atocha.

Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.