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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

Madrid, Madrid (community) (Spain)

IATA: MAD ICAO: LEMD

Longest Active Runway

14,271 ft

4,350 meters

Field Elevation

1,998 ft

609 m MSL

Runway Inventory

4 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

40.4934°, -3.5722°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#21 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#37 of 7558

Top 0.5% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Spain)

#1 of 11 in ES

#2 of 52 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+42.7%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 MAD in numbers: 14,271 ft longest runway · #21 of 650 published · #37 of 7,558 worldwide (top 0.5%) · #1 in Spain.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport is Spain's flagship aviation hub and Europe's foremost Latin American connection portal. Elevated at over 2,000 ft on the central plateau, MAD manages the combined operational challenges of hot summer temperatures and mountain wave turbulence from the Sierra de Guadarrama. Its quad-runway layout permits continuous simultaneous dual arrivals and departures, processing over 60 million passengers annually.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Four active runways configured in two parallel pairs: 18L/36R (11,483 ft) / 18R/36L (11,483 ft) and 14L/32R (11,483 ft) / 14R/32L (13,451 ft / 4,100 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Inaugurated in 1931 at Barajas. Revolutionized in 2006 with the opening of the Richard Rogers-designed Terminal 4 (T4 and T4S), creating Europe's largest terminal surface area.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Primary European air bridge to Latin America, situated on the high Castilian meseta 175 NM northeast of Valencia (VLC).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Located at an elevation of 2,001 ft (610 m MSL); hot Iberian summer temperatures combined with elevation necessitate Runway 14R/32L's 13,451 ft length for fully laden transatlantic flights.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Spain National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

MAD lies at 609 m (1,998 ft), #131 of 650 published airports by elevation and 80.3 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 1,886 ft above the Spain median (112 ft, 11 airports); TFN is highest at 2,076 ft, 78 ft higher than MAD.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

No published neighbour with a paved runway of 5,000 ft or more within 100 NM of MAD. Nearest published airport: Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ), 134 NM, 12,198 ft (2,073 ft shorter than MAD); 4 within 250 NM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 14,271 ft (4,350 m)

MAD runways: 18R/36L 14,271 × 197 ft asphalt (asp); 14R/32L 13,084 × 197 ft asphalt (asp); 14L/32R 11,483 × 197 ft asphalt (asp); 18L/36R 11,483 × 197 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #1 of 11 in Spain; 2,073 ft ahead of ZAZ (12,198 ft). +42.7% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
18R/36L	14,271 ft (4350 m / 4.350 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
14R/32L	13,084 ft (3988 m / 3.988 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
14L/32R	11,483 ft (3500 m / 3.500 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
18L/36R	11,483 ft (3500 m / 3.500 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →