- Direct flights between Spain and Madeira Airport resume in the spring following the winter break and increase to a maximum of 24 weekly flights in the summer.
- Madrid is the main hub on the mainland, followed by Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Madeira Airport is strengthening its links with Spain ahead of the 2026 summer season, with a significantly increased number of flights as the tourist season progresses.
Following the absence of direct flights during the winter months, connections between Spain and Madeira resume in spring and increase progressively until reaching their peak in summer. In total, the Spanish market rises from 8 weekly flights in April to a maximum of 24 in July and August, reflecting a clear seasonal pattern linked to holiday demand. Direct flights will remain operational until October, offering travellers the opportunity to enjoy the island throughout the high season and part of the autumn.
Connectivity is provided via several departure points. Within mainland Spain, the route to Madrid has established itself as the main regular link, with between 4 and 6 weekly flights operated mainly by Iberia and supplemented by Air Nostrum. In addition to this, there are other connections from Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia, as well as a significant number of routes from the Canary Islands, including Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These routes account for a significant proportion of the total number of flights, particularly during the high season, and connect two destinations that are not only close to one another but also integrated within the geographical and tourist sphere of Macaronesia.
Internationally, Spain still holds a more modest share compared to other key markets; however, the Spanish market has shown a growing trend in recent years, with a gradual increase in frequencies and importance within overall international demand, positioning itself as the fifth-largest international market in terms of traffic volume during the summer of 2025.
In this context, the strengthening of direct connections and their marked seasonality are consolidating Madeira as a destination that features increasingly prominently in Spaniards’ travel plans during the summer months.
Featured image: São Vicente with the Chapel of Our Lady of Fátima. ©Francisco Correira
Source: THE BLUEROOM PROJECT