Madrid Airport
www.inSpain.tv - Madrid Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD), located in Madrid is Spain's
most important international and domestic getaway centre. Started in 1928, the airport
has grown to be the most important aviation center of southern Europe.
Madrid Airport Barajas is the principal hub and maintenance base for Iberia and Spanair.
A development on the Madrid Metro system has recently provided a direct link from
Barajas to the Nuevos Ministerios station in the city's business district. A check-in
counter at Nuevos Ministerios enables passengers to check in their bags before leaving
for the airport. The final section of the link from Nuevos Ministerios to Barajas
(line 8) was opened in May 2002.
Madrid Airport Barajas serves as the main hub of Iberia Airlines. It consequently
serves as the main gateway to the Iberian Peninsula from Europe and the rest of the
world, particularly Latin America. Current passenger volumes range upwards of 40 million
passengers per year.
To cope with expected annual increases of 10%, a new fourth terminal and satellite
building is in the process of being constructed at Madrid Airport, scheduled for a
February 5, 2006 opening. It is expected to significantly avoid delays and double
the capacity of the airport. Two additional runways are also being built.