Madrid Barajas Airport is the primary international airport serving Madrid, Spain. It is located just 12 kilometers from the city center. The airport is named after Madrid's first military aviator, Captain Alfredo Barajas Lillo. Captain Barajas was killed in action during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, and the airport was renamed in his honor in 1941.

The airport's three-letter airport code, MAD, is taken from the first two letters of Madrid and the last letter of Barajas. The airport has four main terminals: T1, T2, T3, and T4, with a total of four runways. Madrid Barajas Airport is the sixth busiest airport in Europe and the twelfth busiest in the world, with over 70 million passengers passing through in 2019.

Madrid Barajas Airport operates over 800 flights per day, with the majority of them being domestic within Spain. Major airlines that serve the airport include Iberia, Air Europa, Vueling, and easyJet. The airport also offers flights to North Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

Madrid Barajas Airport has a long and interesting history. It was first established in 1928 as an airfield for the Spanish Air Force. In the early 1930s, the airport was used for military exercises during the Spanish Civil War. In 1945, the airport was taken over by the Ministry of Public Works, and improvements were made to the airfield.

In the 1950s, the airport underwent further expansion, and the first passenger terminal was opened in 1959. By the late 1960s, Madrid Barajas had become the main hub for Iberia Airlines and the leading airport in Spain.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Madrid Barajas Airport underwent extensive renovation and expansion. The new Terminal 4 was opened in 2006 and is now the largest terminal in the airport.

Today, Madrid Barajas Airport is an important gateway for both domestic and international travelers. It is a well-connected hub for air travel and is also served by a number of public transportation options, including the Metro, buses, and taxis. The airport also serves as a hub for many international airlines, including Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways.

Madrid Barajas Airport is a vibrant and modern hub for air travel that has a rich history. It serves as a major gateway for both domestic and international travelers, with over 800 flights per day. The airport is well-connected to the city center and is served by a number of public transportation options. The airport's three-letter airport code, MAD, is taken from the first two letters of Madrid and the last letter of Barajas in honor of Madrid's first military aviator, Captain Alfredo Barajas Lillo.