Top 5 fun facts about Spain's busiest airport
Spain's Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) is the second largest airport in Europe. It started its operations back in 1933, offering flights between Madrid and Barcelona.
In its almost 90 years of operation, the airport has had many interesting stories to tell. Here are 5 of the funniest facts about MAD.
1. The airport is named after Spanish politician Adolfo Suarez
At the age of 43, Suarez was the youngest Prime Minister in Spanish history and soon took on the task of moving Spain towards democracy. Not only did he help write a new constitution, but he was also credited with creating autonomous communities. Suárez died on March 21, 2014, and was buried in Avila's cathedral. After his death on March 26, 2014, the Spanish government renamed the Madrid-Barajas Airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
2. MAD is the second-largest airport in Europe
It is located 30 minutes from the center of Madrid in the suburb of Barajas and is geographically the second-largest airport in Europe. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in France is in first place. Madrid Airport has four terminals and four runways. The first runway is now used as a parking lot. In terms of passenger numbers, it is the fifth busiest airport in Europe, with 50.6 million passengers passing through in 2022.
3. MAD's unique Terminal 4
It is home to Spanish national carrier Iberia and its partner airlines in the global alliance. Therefore, it is the best place to arrive if you are visiting Spain from South or North America, the Middle East or Asia.
4. MAD has nine lounges
This was once a luxury that was only available to passengers flying on the most expensive tickets or elite credit card holders. But today, many lounges are open to the public for a fairly affordable fee for everyone. Admittedly, these are noisy, busy and hectic places that may bore you.
5. MAD is located close to the city center
This way passengers can go to the center of Madrid and sightseeing. Madrid Airport also has excellent transportation links, including metro stations in each of the terminals.