How Big Is the Madrid Airport?

By Robert Palmer

Madrid Airport, also known as Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Spain. It serves as a major hub for international flights to and from Europe, Latin America, and other parts of the world. The airport is located in the city of Madrid, approximately 9 kilometers northeast of the city center.

Size and Capacity

Madrid Airport covers an area of 3,050 hectares, making it one of the largest airports in Europe. The airport has four terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and Terminal 4. The total floor area of all four terminals combined is around 1.2 million square meters.

The airport has a capacity to handle up to 70 million passengers annually. In 2019, Madrid Airport served a total of 61.7 million passengers, making it the sixth-busiest airport in Europe.

Terminal Information

Terminal 1 was opened in 2006 and is mainly used by non-Schengen flights. It has a capacity to handle around 20 million passengers annually.

Terminal 2 was opened in 1954 and underwent renovations in 2003. It is mainly used by Schengen flights and has a capacity to handle around eight million passengers annually.

Terminal 3 was opened in February 2018 and is used for domestic flights within Spain.

Terminal 4 is divided into two buildings: T4 and T4S (satellite terminal). T4 was opened in February 2006 and is one of the largest airport terminals in the world with a total floor area of around one million square meters.

It mainly handles Iberia Airlines flights but also serves other airlines such as Air Europa and Qatar Airways. T4S was opened later that year in November and mainly serves long-haul international flights.

Transportation

Madrid Airport is well-connected to the city center by various modes of transportation. The metro line 8 connects all four terminals to the city center and other parts of Madrid. There are also several bus lines that operate between the airport and different parts of the city.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Madrid Airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in Europe with a capacity to handle up to 70 million passengers annually. The airport has four terminals, each serving different types of flights. With its excellent transportation connections, it’s an important hub for travel in Spain and beyond.