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MADLEMD

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport

Madrid, ES

Airportist Score

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Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport

Madrid, Spain · Europe

Spain’s busiest airport and Iberia’s hub: 68.2 million passengers in 2025, two unlinked terminal groups, a real airside train between T4 and T4S, and a deep Aena lounge bench — still undone by the T1–T3 versus T4 split.

Airportist Score

7.4/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities7.3
Food & retail7.5
Ground access8.2
Reliability7.0
Lounges7.7

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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MADLEMDNormal

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport

Madrid, Spain · Europe

Spain’s busiest airport and Iberia’s hub: 68.2 million passengers in 2025, two unlinked terminal groups, a real airside train between T4 and T4S, and a deep Aena lounge bench — still undone by the T1–T3 versus T4 split.

Airportist Score

7.4/ 10

Solid

Ease of use7.0
Comfort & amenities7.3
Food & retail7.5
Ground access8.2
Reliability7.0
Lounges7.7

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare MAD with another airport

Typical security
20 min
editorial average, not live
Best way to city
15–25 min
Metro Line 8
Lounges
11
6 rated worth it
On time
75%
of departures
Terminals
5
(T1–T3 connected; T4 + T4S via APM)
Passengers / year
68.2M

12 photos

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

TOJMadrid–Torrejón Airport
Madrid
9 km

MADGuide

MADGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Terminal

T4S is the APM, not a bus

T4 and T4S are airside via the Automated People Mover (~3–5 min, level −2). T1–T3 to T4 is landside only.

A wrong hub means a free shuttle plus a second security queue. Check the gate letter before you screen.

Security

100 ml still; T4 CT keeps bags packed

Liquids stay 100 ml. T4’s rebuilt checkpoint lets you leave liquids and electronics in the cabin bag.

Fast Track is €16.55 at T1/T2/T4. T2 Fast Track also keeps liquids in the bag; do not assume that at T1.

Water

Fountains or €1 vending — not a €2 guess

Aena maps drinking fountains (usually by restrooms) and sells vending water at €1 in every terminal.

Skip invented duty-free bottle prices. Lounge water is free only if you already have access.

Lounges

Match the card to the room

PP/LK/DP: Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Neptuno. Retiro and Gran Vía are DragonPass/day-pass, not Priority Pass.

Iberia Velázquez/Dalí and Emirates are entitlement only. Programme hours can be shorter than Aena’s own (Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol).

Live conditions

Right now at MAD

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Europe–Latin America connections on Iberia
oneworld passengers based in T4/T4S
24/7 ground access (metro until ~02:00, €5 Express, €33 taxi)
Priority Pass / LoungeKey coverage in both hubs

Watch out for

No airside link between T1–T3 and T4 — a wrong hub means a second security queue
100 ml liquids still apply even at T4 CT
€3 metro airport supplement on singles and 10-trip tickets
Priority Pass hours can close before Aena’s own (Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol)

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.3

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

8.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.0

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

7.7

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

68.2M

Terminals

5 (T1–T3 connected; T4 + T4S via APM)

On-time departures

75%

Typical security

20 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for MAD.

Updated Sep 28, 2026

68,179,054 passengers in 2025 (+3% vs 2024); 430,616 movements; 840,331 tonnes of cargo
Two hubs: T1–T3 walkable; T4 + T4S linked airside by a 3–5 minute APM — no airside link between the hubs
Iberia, British Airways and Vueling check in at T4; Ryanair, Delta and United at T1; Air Europa T1 (non-Schengen) and T2 (Schengen)
100 ml liquids still apply; T4 CT (from 30 July 2026) lets liquids and electronics stay in the bag
Fast Track €16.55 at T1, T2 and T4 via Aena VIP Services
Metro Line 8: €1.50–€2.00 + €3 airport supplement; Express bus €5; taxi Tarifa 4 €33 inside the M-30

16 official sources

https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas.html
https://www.aena.es/en/press/aena-group-airports-exceed-384.8-million-passengers-in-2025.html
https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/airport-services/transport-between-terminals.html
https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/airport-services/connecting-flights.html
https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/getting-there/taxi.html
https://www.aena.es/es/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/como-llegar/metro.html
https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/getting-there/bus.html
https://www.aena.es/es/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/como-llegar/tren.html
https://www.crtm.es/billetes-transporte-publico-aeropuerto-madrid
https://www.aena.es/es/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/servicios-vip/salas-vip/salas-vip-todas-terminales.html
https://www.aena.es/es/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/servicios-vip/fast-track.html
https://serviciosvip.aena.es/vip/es/aeropuertos/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas
https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/airport-services/categories-and-terminals/other-services.html
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/spain/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas
https://airport.mastercard.com/en/lounge-finder/lounge?loungecode=MAD3
https://www.dragonpass.com/explore/airport/A10065

Full guide

Explore the MAD guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, the Madrid city center, and Madrid–Torrejón Airport (TOJ)
City center1 other airport
View Map
Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Metro Line 8
View Getting There
Lounges
11 lounges with access rules, hours, and verdicts. 6 rated worth it.
Cibeles VIP LoungePuerta de Alcalá VIP LoungeIberia Premium Lounge Velázquez
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Read the gate letter before security. T4S (S/M gates) is airside from T4 via the APM; T1–T3 to T4 is landside only and means a second security queue
13 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
6 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
T4–T4S Automated People MoverAena VIP loungesT4 CT security
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
3 spots2 free or refill
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

🌤️17°C / 63°F

Security wait times

Current security wait information is not available for this airport. Check the airport's official website or app before travel.

Official airport site

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Oct 21, 13:59 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.