Photo Credit: Arrano

Madrid-Barajas International Airport

The premier gateway to the Iberian Peninsula and the world’s 11th busiest airport, Madrid’s airport handles around 50 million passengers a year. Located just nine kilometers from the city center, the facility has four working terminals, with the busiest, 2 and 4, dealing with the majority of international flights. Iberia, Air Europa, Ryanair and EasyJet are the main carriers to Spain, connecting from a wide variety of European and cross-continental destinations.

US visitors have plenty of options with American Airlines flying from New York, Dallas/Fort Worth or Miami, Iberia from Los Angeles and Miami, US Airways from Philadelphia and Delta with routes from Atlanta and New York. UK travelers can choose between British Airways from London City, EasyJet from London Gatwick or Luton and Iberia from London Heathrow. EasyJet also has connections to a number of regional UK airports including Manchester, Edinburgh and Liverpool.

Facilities in the complex include full banking services, currency exchange and ATMs, internet access, post offices, pharmacies and medical stations, services for the disabled and children, and an airside shopping mall with duty-free shopping. VIP lounges and a wide selection of cafés, bars and restaurants can be found in terminals 1, 2 and 4, while Terminal 3 has snack bars and a coffee shop. Onward transportation is provided by metro, airport shuttle, express bus, intercity bus, or long distance bus. Car rental and taxi services are also available on-site.

Barcelona El Prat International Airport

Simply known as Barcelona Airport, this is the transportation hub for the Catalonia region of Spain. Averaging 34 million passengers a year, the complex is located 7.5 miles (12 kms) from downtown Barcelona and has two terminals. Vueling and Ryanair are its biggest carriers, with American, Delta and United offering direct flights from several US cities including Atlanta, NYC and Miami. UK visitors are well-served by a combination of low-cost and full-service flights from London and regional airports.

Facilities include banking, currency exchange and ATMs, internet access, assistance for the disabled and children, VIP lounges, gift shops, duty-free shopping, and a small selection of cafés, snack bars and eateries. Parking and car rental desks are available or transportation can be provided by commuter rail, bus or shuttle. A connection to the super-fast AVE rail network is planned for the near future.

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