How many Terminals does Madrid Airport have?
Madrid Airport is divided into 4 terminals, sub-splitting into two complexes. The three airport terminals (1, 2, and 3) are really close to each other. As a matter of fact, T1 is only a 15-minutes walking distance away from the far opposite T3. On the other hand, T4 is accessible from the other terminals by car or the airport shuttle bus. Moreover, another terminal exclusively handles cargo flights.
MAD Airport T1
T1 of Madrid Airport is the terminal serving international flights. With six boarding areas, T1 is the hub for major airlines, such as Lufthansa, Easyjet, and Air France. The first floor of T1 houses the Departures areas. Therefore, check-ins take place on T1’s level 1. Oppositely, the ground floor hosts the Arrivals, as well as the baggage claim zone. T1 doesn’t have many seats and amenities. However, its services are adequate, while T2 and T3 are easily reachable on foot.
MAD Airport T2
T2 of Suarez International Airport handles the flights from and to the inside-the-Schengen zone countries. Some domestic and intercontinental destinations are also being served by T2, yet the vast majority of flights concern European territories. MAD Airport T2 is the oldest terminal of the airport and is spread into 3 levels. The ground level houses the baggage carousels. From that level, passengers can reach T3. On floor 1 lies the check-in area, while the Departures zone is placed on level 2.
MAD Airport T3
The majority of domestic flights depart or fly to T3. T3 is actually part of the North Dock (Dique Norte), which was originally constructed as an extension of T2. Thus, the boarding areas and the baggage claims are located at the T2 premises. Explicitly, arrivals and baggage carousels are to be found on T3 ground level, which is also the connecting point of the two terminals. T3’s first floor hosts the departures and the check-in zone and offers another passage to T2, whereas boarding areas E-81 and E-82 are located on the second floor.
MAD Airport T4 and T4S
Madrid airport T4 – actually Iberia’s terminal- is subdivided into two terminals, T4 and T4S, with T4S being a satellite terminal. The relatively new terminal, which opened its doors in 2006, has an underground free rail connection between its two sections. The automatic train (APM-Automated People Mover) needs about 3 minutes to travel between T4 and T4S with available routes every 5 minutes.
T4 is a five-story building serving domestic and international flights. The underground levels host Aeropuerto 4, the airport’s train station, along with some car rental agencies. APM trains also leave from this station. Arrivals are to be found on floor 0 while T4’s first level shelters the boarding gates J50-J51 and J48-J49, and the duty-free area. Check-ins take place at the second level of the terminal. It is worth mentioning that the famous flights between Madrid and Barcelona (Puente Aéreo) are also being served at this level.
On the other hand, T4S is the satellite terminal handling non-Schengen flights. The APM trains depart from the underground floor. Moreover, arrivals lie at the ground level, while the first floor hosts the Departures and the terminal’s shopping and dining amenities. Finally, some security checkpoints are situated on the second level.
Transfer Between Terminals
Although terminals 1, 2, and 3 can be reached on foot as their buildings are located almost next to each other, T4 is not within walking distance. Thus, a free airport shuttle connects the terminals 24/7, leaving from level 1 of T1, level 2 of T2, and level 2 of T4. The shuttle bus has routes every 5 minutes from 06:00 am to 10:00 pm and every 20 minutes from 10:00 pm to 06:00 am.
FAQs
How many terminals does Madrid have?
Madrid Airport has four terminal buildings. The three of them (T1, T2, and T3) are located almost next to each other. However, T4 is 6km away from the three terminal buildings. What’s more, it is divided into two sections, T4 and T4S, with T4S being a satellite terminal.
How long does it take to get from terminal 1 to terminal 4 at Madrid Airport?
The free shuttle bus leaves from level 1 of T1 and heads to T4, stopping at the terminal’s level 2. The bus needs about 10 minutes to traverse the between-the-terminals distance.
How do I get from terminal 4 to 4S in Madrid?
Transfers from T4 to Satellite T4S are handled by the automatic train, APM. The underground train, operating without a driver, leaves the T4 Train Station every 5 minutes and gets to T4S in about 3 minutes. The APM train is free of charge.