Air Europa is leading new route growth at Madrid-Barajas Airport this summer, with seven new connections due to open between May and October 2026, according to data compiled by Mad.Airport, a social media account focused on the Spanish capital’s hub. The airline is set to outpace rival Iberia in the race to expand Madrid‘s route map.
Mad.Airport reports that Madrid-Barajas will gain a total of 26 new routes during the summer season. Air Europa, part of the Globalia group and a member of the SkyTeam alliance, is the most active airline in this latest wave of expansion.
The carrier’s new network includes international services to Geneva, Johannesburg, Bologna, Alghero, and Tangier, as well as domestic routes to Seville and Asturias. The new Madrid-Johannesburg service, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, is scheduled to launch on 24 June 2026, running three times weekly, subject to government approval. The Madrid-Tangier route, the first direct link between the two cities, begins on 16 June 2026 and will operate up to five times a week over the summer. Bologna will be served three times weekly, adding another Italian city to Air Europa‘s growing network. The new Seville and Asturias (Oviedo) domestic routes will each operate twice a day on Boeing 737 aircraft, with more than 850 flights and over 153,000 seats planned on each route in 2026.
Iberia, Air Europa‘s main rival at Madrid-Barajas, will add four routes of its own: Monterrey, Toronto, Bucharest, and Tivat. The airline continues its focus on transatlantic and European growth, strengthening its position in the Latin American market from Madrid. The Madrid-Monterrey service launches in June 2026 with three weekly frequencies, targeting both leisure and corporate travelers ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Other carriers are also adding new services at the airport. Wizz Air is launching flights to London, Larnaca, and Turin, while Ryanair is adding links to Gdansk and Wroclaw. World2Fly is due to begin services to Cartagena de Indias and Rosario.
Latin America remains a major theme in Madrid‘s summer expansion. Alongside World2Fly, Plus Ultra is opening a route to Buenos Aires and Iberojet is starting services to El Salvador. The additions underline the airport’s role as a key long-haul gateway to the Americas.
European and African connectivity is also increasing. Volotea, FlyOne, SkyUp, and Royal Air Maroc are adding routes to destinations including Lille, Montpellier, Bucharest, Chisinau, and Tangier, broadening the airport’s short and medium-haul coverage.
Singapore Airlines will also operate between Madrid and Singapore five times a week, further extending the airport’s long-haul offer into Southeast Asia.
The figures show how competition at Madrid-Barajas is intensifying as airlines target both short-haul leisure traffic and long-haul demand. Air Europa‘s seven-route expansion puts it ahead of Iberia for new launches in the summer season, while Latin America continues to shape the airport’s wider growth strategy.
