Madrid Airport Guide

Madrid Airport Information

Madrid Airport is officially known as Madrid-Barajas Airport with airport code MAD and is located just 12kms from Madrid city centre. It is the main Spanish airport serving the capital and handling daily flights for domestic routes, many short haul international destinations and a number of long haul flights as well.

Checking-in at Madrid-Barajas Airport can be a little confusing if you do not know the terminal you are flying from as there are four terminals at Madrid airport so we recommend that you have all this information to hand before you arrive to avoid confusion.

Terminology - Please note that where you see P1, P2, P3 etc on tickets or boarding passes it actually refers to the floor number as in Spanish Planta means floor level. For example planta 1 means first floor.

Check In Terminal 1 - Madrid Airport

As you arrive to the main departure lounge at terminal 1 of Madrid airport, which is alocated on the first floor, you will see the information screens indicating the check-in desk number for your flight. When you check in you will be told the depature gate for your flight which will also be indicated on your boarding pass.

Desks numbered in the 100's - Normally for the following airlines:
Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa (non Schengen EU countries and third countries ), Air Transat, Andalus (flights to Gibraltar), Blue Air, Continental Airlines, Conviasa, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, My Way, Qatar Airways, Quantum Air (non Schengen EU countries and third countries), Saudi Arab and TAM.

Desks numbered in the 200's - Normally for the following airlines:
Aerosur, Air Cairo, Air China, Air Comet, Air Memphis, Air Moldova, AMV Aviation, Atlas Jet, Bulgaria Air, Cairo Aviation, Cubana, Dubrovnik Airlines, Free Birds, Libyan Arab, LOT, Onur Air, Pegasus Air, Privilege Style, Santa Barbara, Sata, Swiftar, Tunisair and US Airways.

Desks numbered in the 300's - Normally for the following airlines:
Aerlingus, Air Canada, Air Malta, Easy Jet, Egypt Air, Germanwings, Lufthansa, Pullmantur, Ryanair, Swiss Thai, Turkish and Wizz Air.

Check In Terminal 2 - Madrid Airport

Terminal 2 is located on the second floor of the Madrid Airport building and the departure desks will be indicated by the screens scattered around the area. Please note that the security areas for entering the departure lounge is located on the first floor.

Desks numbered in the 400's - Normally for the following airlines:
Adria, Air Berlin, Air France, Alitalia, Andalus (flights to Almeria) and KLM.

Desks numbered in the 500's - Normally for the following airlines:
Air Europa (domestic and Schengen destinations), Air Portugal TAP, Brussels Airlines, SAS, SAS Norway and Spanair

Check In Terminal 3 - Madrid-Barajas Airport

Terminal 3 check-in is located on the ground floor of Madrid airport and operates from desks 610 to 617, boarding zone F. Desks 600 to 603 are on the first floor, boarding zone E.

Please note that terminal 3 check-in desks are currently closed.

Check In Terminal 4 - Madrid-Barajas Airport

This is the biggest and busiest check in area and operates slightly differently to the rest of the terminals at Madrid Airport. As you enter on second floor you will see signs for the various airlines to make it easier to locate your actual check in desk area. Then as always check the screens for the correct numbered check-in desks.

Please note that once you have gone through security you will need to head in different directions depending on the flight you are taking. If you have been allocated boarding gate H, J or K (normally for national or Schengen destinations or Iberia flights to London and Dublin), you should head right on down the stairs to the first floor where the boarding gates are located. If you have been allocated boarding gates R, S or U head left and down to the second floor where you will need to take the special underground rail link to T4S (a 3 minute journey).

Once in T4S if you have boarding zone is M then head for the ground floor (usually for national or Schengen destinations). If you have been allocated gates R, S or U go through passport control and on the first floor.

The Iberia air shuttle is located in an exclusive area on the left at the end of the second floor of T4.

We strongly recommend that you check with your airline which part of Madrid airport terminal 4 you will need and how long it will take from check-in to the departure gates.

Desks numbered 720-729 - Normally for the following airlines:
Iberworld

Desks numbered730-739 - Normally for the following airlines:
Luxair, Olympic and Ukraine International.

Desks numbered 750-759 - Normally for the following airlines:
Bulgaria Air, Finnair and Vueling.

Desks numbered 760-769 - Normally for the following airlines:
CSA Czech Airlines.

Desks numbered 780-789, 790-799, 810-819, 820-829, 840-849, 850-859, 870-879, 880-889 and 900-909 - Normally for the following airlines:
Air Nostrum and Iberia. Business class passengers check in at desks 840-859.

Desks numbered 880-889 - Normally for the following airlines:
Blue Air and Malev

Desks numbered 840-849, 850-859 - Normally for the following airlines:
Iberia business class

Desks numbered 900-909 - Normally for the following airlines:
British Airways, Cityflyer, Royal Air Maroc, Sirian Arab, Tarom and Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde.

Desks numbered 910-919 - Normally for the following airlines:
Meridiana and Mexicana de Aviación

Desks numbered 930-939 - Normally for the following airlines:
American Airlines, Atlas Blue and Lan Group.

Desks numbered 960-969 - Normally for the following airlines:
Air Algerie, Avianca and Royal Jordanian.

Desks numbered 970-979 - Normally for the following airlines:
El Al Israel Airlines.

Desks numbered for air shuttle (990-993) - Normally for the following airlines:
Iberia.

Madrid-Barajas Car Hire

Being Spain's main airport and hub for access to other parts of Spain it is no surprise that there are lots of car hire companies at Madrid Airport. Many of our visitors have found that by using the form at the top of this page, they have been able to easily compare rates from the main Car Hire firms at Madrid Barajas Airport and book without fuss.