Additional runway and terminal capacity are enabling the budget carriers to expand services at Madrid. The UK is one of the main beneficiaries with a new service from London City, an additional flight from Gatwick and the first ever links from Nottingham and Bournemouth.
BA Connect (BA's budget brand) launches a twice daily service from London City on October 29. This had been one of the routes most requested by City users. Flights are timed to leave at 1005 and 1855 and to return from Madrid at 0750 and 1640 so they are geared slightly more towards the Madrid-based passenger.
BA Connect will share Madrid's new terminal with its parent and other Oneworld members. The airport's older terminal, where handling fees are reputed to be less expensive, is now being made available to low-cost carriers.
Easyjet will increase its flights from Gatwick from three to four a day on October 30. Timings here are now geared for business people with the new flights departing Gatwick at 1925 and leaving Madrid at 0725. The other flights (timings refer to travel from October 30) leave from Gatwick at 0740, 1300 and 1655 with the inbound timings to the UK being at 1145, 1720 and 2055.
Ryanair is marking a change of tack by actually using a major airport rather than a secondary facility outside town. Its new flights at Madrid will make it easier for UK regional travellers to access Spain. It is inaugurating services from Nottingham East Midlands and Bournemouth in November.
There will be four flights a week from Nottingham commencing November 22 and three flights a week from Bournemouth starting on November 23. Services on both routes depart at 0840 and return at 0640.
In addition to the UK services listed above both Easyjet and Ryanair are launching a number of routes from Madrid to destinations in mainland Europe.
For more information go to easyjet.com, ryanair.com, ba.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
