Madrid to Barcelona (MAD–BCN) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
MAD–BCN is served by 6 airlines with nonstop service. Iberia, Vueling and Air Europa lead the route. The flight covers 300 miles in approximately 1h 20m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IB Iberia Also: AT, AV, AY, BA, CX, LA, LL, QR | 93 | 320, 321, 32A | 1h15-1h24 | – | Oneworld | AT, AV, AY, BA, CX, LA, LL, QR |
| VY Vueling | 82 | 320, 321, 32A, 32S | 1h15-1h25 | – | – | – |
| UX Air Europa Also: ET, EY, JU, KE, ME, SV | 14 | 789 | 1h25 | – | SkyTeam | ET, EY, JU, KE, ME, SV |
| TU Tunisair | 2 | 320 | 1h10 | – | – | – |
| NE Nesma Airlines | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| RJ Royal Jordanian | 0 | – | – | – | Oneworld | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Barcelona from Madrid
| Metric | MAD→BCN | VLL→BCN | VIT→BCN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from MAD | – | 107 mi | 171 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 526 | 3 | 8 |
| Flight time | 1h 20m | 1h 25m | 1h |
Travel Essentials
MAD: CEST · BCN: CEST
When it's 6:00 PM in Madrid, it's 6:00 PM in Barcelona.
Metro Line 8 runs from Nuevos Ministerios (central Madrid) to T1/T2/T3 in 12–15 minutes (€6, including the airport supplement). T4 requires an additional free shuttle from T2; add 10 minutes. The Cercanías commuter train (Line C-1) reaches T4 from Atocha station in 25 minutes (€2.60, no supplement).Taxis have a fixed fare of €30 from central Madrid zones. The ride is typically 20–35 minutes depending on traffic. Avenida de América bus hub serves several airport bus routes (€5).
Aerobus coaches depart T1 and T2 every 5 minutes to Plaça de Catalunya (35 min, €6.75). Running from 5:00am to 1:00am, they serve the widest range of city-centre destinations. RENFE R2 Nord commuter trains serve T2 only (T1 requires a free inter-terminal bus); trains to Sants take 19 minutes (€4.60).Taxis use a fixed rate: €39 to the city centre (all zones, flat rate). Ride-shares vary. Car rental desks are in T1 arrivals. T1 and T2 are separate buildings; confirm your terminal before booking transport.
Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and sunny (28–32°C) with low humidity and rare disruptions. July and August are peak travel season with reliable flying weather. Winters are mild (8–15°C) with occasional rain, rarely cold enough for frost or snow.
Spring and fall bring the highest rainfall risk. October can see heavy downpours. Sea fog in early morning occasionally reduces visibility at the airport but clears quickly.
MAD–BCN Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Madrid to Barcelona: Spain's Most Competitive Short-Haul Route
MAD–BCN is one of the busiest air routes in Europe by passenger count, operating between Spain's two largest cities and their respective international hubs. Iberia runs the historic Puente Aéreo shuttle from Terminal 4 at Barajas, with departures timed to provide near-continuous service throughout the day. Vueling, the Barcelona-based carrier, adds significant capacity from its El Prat base. Air Europa and Ryanair both serve the route, driving price competition across all cabin types. Block time is 1 hour 20 minutes. The route feeds both airports' long-haul networks, with Barajas serving as Iberia's transatlantic hub and El Prat as Vueling's intercontinental gateway.
Modal Competition and Passenger Mix
The high-speed AVE rail connection has captured a significant share of the Madrid–Barcelona intercity market since its launch, but the air route has held its own through frequency and the connecting passenger segment. Travelers originating at or connecting through MAD or BCN to international destinations remain the core air market. Pure point-to-point leisure travelers increasingly choose the train for city-center access. Airlines on this corridor operate with very high seat density to keep unit costs competitive against rail. The combined effect is one of Europe's most price-transparent and operationally mature short-haul markets.