Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas stands as a leading European airport complex, underscoring Spain’s aviation footprint. Over the last year, passenger traffic climbed to about 60.2 million, marking an 18.9% rise from the year before. This places Barajas third in the European Union by passenger volume, fifteenth globally, and first in Spain for passenger movement, operations, and cargo handling. The airport operates a four-terminal layout (T1, T2, T3, T4) plus a satellite module for Terminal 4 (T4-S) and four runways. The T4 complex, opened in 2006, expanded Barajas into the largest surface area airport in Europe, spanning roughly 35 square kilometers. Recently, the government signaled the start of expansion work, with President Pedro Sánchez announcing the initiative at Fitur 2024.
In 2023, expansion plans advanced with an investment of 2.4 billion euros, now approved. The project features two primary goals: enlarging the passenger footholds by extending the berths and processing areas of T4 and T4S toward the north, and consolidating T1, T2, and T3 into a single, streamlined terminal. A central facility will house all check-in, security, and baggage operations, creating a unified centerpiece for the airport. The aim is to elevate service quality and accommodate up to 90 million passengers annually, strengthening Barajas as a major international hub.
This expansion aligns with similar plans for Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. The long-term objective is to create a sustainable international hub that supports long-haul connections to the Americas, Asia, and Africa, reinforcing Spain’s position in global air travel.
Before pre-pandemic levels recover
Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat closed 2023 without returning to pre-pandemic passenger numbers, though Aena’s network across Spain still posted a new high for the year. Overall, Spain’s airport network saw growth, yet Barajas and El Prat reported modest declines relative to 2022. Specifically, Madrid–Barajas handled about 60.2 million passengers in 2023, up 18.9% from 2022, while Barcelona–El Prat served roughly 49.9 million travelers, a 20% rise from 2022.
Recovery is ongoing across Spain’s airports, with several facilities climbing back toward 2019 figures since late 2022. Notably, Barajas and El Prat surpassed their pre-pandemic numbers in the autumn of 2023 for two consecutive months, November and December. February 2020 remains the last month ahead of 2019 figures for both sites, before the Covid-19 disruption reshaped travel patterns. In total, Spain’s Aena network welcomed more than 283 million passengers in 2023, an increase of 16.2% versus 2022 and nearly 3% above 2019 levels. Aena’s leadership highlighted these solid results as crucial for Spain’s economic and social development, underscoring the resilience of the country’s air transport sector.