After a setback or two, Barajas International Airport has opened a state-of-the-art terminal to compete with the best in the business. Colin Ellson reports Baggage will go missing at even the most efficient of airports. But it’s something Madrid Barajas International could have done without in February. Days after the opening of the new Terminal Four, the Spanish Winter Olympics team left there for Turin – and their luggage stayed put. Pity the official with the job of telling Spain’s pride of the piste that teething troubles are inevitable when you are launching a mammoth facility designed to “transform the airport experience”. Back from Italy, even disgruntled snowboarders would find it difficult to be unimpressed by T4. Costing €6 billion, it almost doubles the capacity of Barajas International, the most important aviation hub in southern Europe, with 42 million passengers flying on over 60 airlines to destinations worldwide in 2005. The terminal, which in addition to causing the Olympians to throw a wobbly also opened a week behind schedule, consists of two buildings, the main terminal for domestic and Schengen country flights, and its satellite, used for long-haul and some European services. Located either side of one of the airport's four runways, the buildings are connected by underground high-speed people mover, capable of transferring 13,000 passengers an hour over the 2-kilometre track in four minutes. They will, however, have to wait awhile to travel by Madrid Metro from the Spanish capital to its airport, with an extension to T4’s dedicated station not due to open until the second half of this year. The main aim of the T4 concept was to house under one roof all the members of the oneworld alliance serving Madrid, who together operate 650 arriving and departing flights a day, carrying more than 25 million passengers a year to over 100 destinations in 42 countries. Their move from the existing terminals marked the alliance’s most significant co-location yet, led by Iberia, which from its home base accounts for 60% of all operations. Also transferring lock, stock and check-in desk were American Airlines, British Airways, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus, along with members elect Malev and Royal Jordanian. Says Oneworld managing partner John McCulloch: “In passenger terms, [Terminal 4] is the culmination of our efforts to ensure that flying with a oneworld airline is seamless. It provides us with fantastic ground facilities at the alliance’s main gateway between Europe and Latin America.” The brainchild of London Heathrow Terminal 5 designer, the Richard Rodgers Partnership, in association with Spanish architect Antonio Lamela, T4 has its departure hall in the main building, where there are 172 check-in desks, including self-service kiosks, and 38 boarding gates. Security and baggage collection is also in the terminal, but passport control in the satellite. Among the extensive facilities in the 1.13km long terminal and satellite, Iberia has planned three lounges for premium passengers and emerald or sapphire tier cardholders in any oneworld airline’s frequent flyer programme. These include Sala Dali in the main building, and in the satellite, Sala Goya and Sala Velazquez, the biggest lounge, with space for 360 travellers. In addition to honouring the great names of Spanish painting, the lounges also reflect Iberian tradition in their style, the facilities including a wine bar, Wi Fi connectivity, PCs and peripherals – scanners, faxes and printers – plus showers, meeting rooms and a smoking area. At-a-glance guide
Location: 13km (8 miles) northeast of central Madrid
Transport links: Metro station located in Terminal 2 (additional station under construction for the newly opened T4), with Line 8 operating towards the centre, but passengers having to change at Mar de Cristal (Line 4) to reach the most central destinations. Bus route 204 is currently the most convenient method for travellers using the new terminal to reach the city centre, while route 201 provides a connection to the Barajas Metro station in T2. The 200 service links Terminals 1,2 and 3 and the city centre.Taxis take around 25-30 minutes and charge between Û20-Û30, which includes a Û4.20 airport supplement. A cheaper option is a shared 7-seat AeroCity, which costs €19 for up to three people
Annual passenger throughput: 40 million
Minimum connecting time: 45-165 minutes, depending on terminal interchange
Executive lounges: available in all four terminals
Facilities: business centres (T1, T2 and T4), postal facilities (T1and T4), meeting rooms (T1 and T2) medical assistance points (T4 and also location between T1&T2); pharmacies (T1 and T2); tourist office (T1 and T4); newsagents, duty-free, delicatessens, cigars, branded fashion outlets; new terminal and its satellite both have cafes and snackbars serving a wide range of food and drinks, from sherry to take-away coffee, and from hot tapas to sandwiches Banks/cashpoints: two banks with branches in Terminals 1 and 4, ATMs in all terminals; also currency exchange desks.
Airport hotels: Tryp Diana, Auditorium Madrid, NH Alcala, Togumar, Tryp Barajas, Best Western Atlantico, Sofitel Madrid Airport, NH Villa Coslada, Orense, High Tech Arturo Soria, Gran Melia Fenix
Car rental desks: AresMobile, Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National
Passenger tax: included in ticket price
Website: www.aena.es
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