Group action

In algebra and geometry, a group action is a way of describing symmetries of objects using groups. The essential elements of the object are described by a set and the symmetries of the object are described by the symmetry group of this set, which consists of bijective transformations of the set. In this case, the group is also called a permutation group (especially if the set is finite or not a vector space) or transformation group (especially if the set is a vector space and the group acts like linear transformations of the set).

A group action is a flexible generalization of the notion of a symmetry group in which every element of the group "acts" like a bijective transformation (or "symmetry") of some set, without being identified with that transformation. This allows for a more comprehensive description of the symmetries of an object, such as a polyhedron, by allowing the same group to act on several different sets, such as the set of vertices, the set of edges and the set of faces of the polyhedron.

If G is a group and X is a set then a group action may be defined as a group homomorphism from G to the symmetric group of X. The action assigns a permutation of X to each element of the group in such a way that

the permutation of X assigned to the identity element of G is the identity transformation of X;

the permutation of X assigned to a product gh of two elements of the group is the composite of the permutations assigned to g and h.

Since each element of G is represented as a permutation, a group action is also known as a permutation representation.

The abstraction provided by group actions is a powerful one, because it allows geometrical ideas to be applied to more abstract objects. Many objects in mathematics have natural group actions defined on them. In particular, groups can act on other groups, or even on themselves. Despite this generality, the theory of group actions contains wide-reaching theorems, such as the orbit stabilizer theorem, which can be used to prove deep results in several fields.

(source:wikipedia)

crowd

A crowd is a large and definable group of people, while "the crowd" is referred to as the so-called lower orders of people in general (the mob). A crowd may be definable through a common purpose or set of emotions, such as at a political rally, at a sports event, or during looting, or simply be made up of many people going about their business in a busy area (eg shopping). Everybody in the context of general public or the common people is normally referred to as the masses.

Terminology

The term crowd is often defined in contrast to other group nouns for collections of humans or animals: aggregation, audience, group, mass, mob, populous, public, rabble and throng. For example in "Public Opinion" Vincent Price compares masses and crowds:

Crowds are defined by their shared emotional experiences, but masses are defined by their interpersonal isolation.

In human sociology, the term "mobbed" simply means "extremely crowded", as in a busy mall or shop. In animal behaviour mobbing is a technique where many individuals of one species "gang up" on a larger individual of another species to drive them away. Mobbing behaviour is often seen in birds.

Social aspects of crowds

Social aspects are concerned with the formation, management and control of crowds, both from the point of view of individuals and groups. Often crowd control is designed to persuade a crowd to align with a particular view (e.g., political rallies), or to contain groups to prevent damage or mob behaviour. Politically organised crowd control is usually conducted by law enforcement but on some occasions military forces are used for particularly large or dangerous crowds.

Social aspects of crowds for adolescent peer groups

Adolescent culture is a relatively new feature of society, affecting most teenagers in the United States since the 1930s. The research on adolescent culture began with the search for identities: who the adolescents and their peer groups are and the differences and how adolescent culture differed from adult culture. Many researchers are making efforts to develop an understanding of the functions of crowds. But the findings are complicated due to multiple definitions of the crowd. Now in adolescence, peer affiliation becomes more important than ever before. Youths tend to categorize themselves and each other based on stereotypes and reputations. These categories are known in the developmental psychology literature as peer crowds. Crowds are defined as reputation based collectives of similarly stereotyped individuals who may or may not spend much time together. Crowds also refer to collectives of adolescents identified by the interests, attitudes, abilities, and/or personal characteristics they have in common. Crowds are different from cliques, which are interaction based peer groups who hang out together. Crowds are not simply clusters of cliques; the two different structures serve entirely different purposes. Because the clique is based on activity and friendship, it is the important setting in which the adolescent learns social skills like how to be a good friend and how to communicate effectively. These and other social skills are important in adulthood as well as in adolescence. Crowds are based on reputation and stereotypes than on interaction; they probably contribute more to the adolescent sense of identity and self-conception. For example jocks and burnouts are more likely to be interaction based than such crowds as loners and nerds.

Psychological aspects of crowds

Psychological aspects are concerned with the psychology of the crowd as a group and the psychology of those who allow their will and emotions to be informed by the crowd (both discussed more comprehensively under crowd psychology), and other individual responses to crowds, such as crowd-sickness, claustrophobia and agoraphobia.

(source:wikipedia)

peer group

A peer group is a social group consisting of people. Peer groups are an informal primary group of people who share a similar or equal status and who are usually of roughly the same age, tended to travel around and interact within the social aggregate Members of a particular peer group often have similar interests and backgrounds, bonded by the premise of sameness. However, some peer groups are very diverse, crossing social divides such as socioeconomic status, level of education, race, creed, culture, or religion.

Developmental psychology

Developmental psychologists, Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Harry Stack Sullivan, have all argued that peer relationships provide a unique context for cognitive, social, and emotional development, with equality, reciprocity, cooperation, and intimacy, maturing and enhancing children's reasoning abilities and concern for others. Modern research echoes these sentiments, showing that social and emotional gains are indeed provided by peer interaction.

Bonding and functions of peer groups

Serve as a source of info.

Peer groups have a significant influence on psychological and social adjustments for group individuals.Peer groups provide perspective outside of individual’s viewpoints. Members inside peer groups also learn to develop relationships with other in the social system. Peers, particularly group members, become important social referents for  teaching members customs, social norms, and different ideologies.

Teaches gender roles.

Peer groups can also serve as a venue for teaching members Gender roles. Through gender-role socialization group members learn about sex differences, social and cultural expectations. While boys and girls differ greatly there is not a one to one link between sex and gender role with males always being masculine and female always being feminine. Both genders can contain different levels of masculinity and femininity. Peer groups like gender roles can consist of all males, all females, or both male and female. Peer groups can have great influence or peer pressure on each other’s gender role behavior depending on the amount of pressure. If a peer group holds to a strong social norm, member will behave in ways predicted by their gender roles, but if there is not a unanimous peer agreement gender roles do not correlate with behavior

Serves as a practicing venue to adulthood.

Adolescent Peer groups provide support for children, and teens as they assimilate into the adult society decreasing dependence on parents, and increasing feeling of self-sufficiency and connecting with a much larger social network. this is “a period in which individuals are expanding their perspective beyond the family how to and learning negotiate relationships with others in the social system. Peers, particularly group members, become important social referents”  Peer groups also have influence on individual member’s attitudes, and behaviors on many cultural, and social issues such as drug use, violence, academic achievement and even the development and expression of prejudice.

Teaches unity & collective behavior

Peer Groups “ provide an influential social setting in which group norms are developed, and enforced through socialization processes that promote within-group similarity. Peer groups cohesion is determined, and maintained by such factors as group Communication, Group consensus, and Group conformity concerning attitude and behavior. As members of peer groups interconnect, and agree, a normative code arises. This Normative code can become very rigid deciding group behavior, and dress. Peer group individuality is increased by normative codes, and intergroup conflict. Member Deviation from the strict normative code can lead to rejection from the group.

Gender differences

Male

Male peer groups tend to display more assertive behavior and independence. Male peer groups also tend to display more antagonistic behavior than girls. Status hierarchies develop within Males peer groups having members vie for position for a time, but eventually a stable hierarchy is established reducing intragroup conflict. Many Adolescent male peer groups use homophobic behavior (e.g., using homophobic epithets or making homophobic statements) to assert masculinity and identify inappropriate behavior among group members.

Female

Female peer group members often feel greater investments in their social relationships than Males. Because of this investment female peer groups place a greater importance on group affiliation. This need of affiliation also leads females to dissent less and be more conforming to peer group norms compared to males. Status hierarchies are also formed in female groups, but often denied by group members . The great value placed on group membership also causes female groups to be more exclusive and resistant to new members after the group has been set. Furthermore, females great investments in social relationships tends to lead to more positive interactions than those of males.

Peer pressure

The term peer pressure is often used to describe instances where an individual feels indirectly pressured into changing their behavior to match that of their peers. Taking up smoking and underage drinking are two of the best known examples. In spite of the often negative connotations of the term, peer pressure can be used positively.

(source:wikipedia)

Town

Twitter is a world web surfer's town.The twitters use twitter for promot there products power wheels barbie, coat tree, corel draw, green tea, radio, flyer, wagon,cross, trainer, headphones, sandisk, cruzer, drum kit, chocolate, truffles,acuvue, toaster, origami, paper, tiara, video card,flash card, bubble machine, window washer, faucet ,atkins bars,portable generator, disco, ball, nikon ,coolpix rowing machine, briefcases,and there business links.

working group

A working group (WG) is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers working on new research activities that would be difficult to develop under traditional funding mechanisms (e.g. federal agencies). The lifespan of the WG can last anywhere between a few months and several years. Such groups have the tendency to develop a quasi-permanent existence once the assigned task is accomplished; hence the need to disband (or phase out) the WG once it has provided solutions to the issues for which it was initially convened. Such goals to be achieved may include:

creation of an informational document;

creation of a standard, or

resolution of problems related to a system or network.

The WG may assemble experts (and future experts) on a topic together for intensive work. It is not an avenue for briefing novices about the subject matter. Occasionally, a group might admit a person with little experience and a lot of enthusiasm. However, such participants should be present as observers and in the minority.

Working groups are also referred to as task groups or technical advisory groups.

Characteristics

The nature of the working group may depend on the group's raison d’être — which may be technical, artistic (specifically musical), or administrative in nature.

]Administrative working groups

These working groups are established by decision makers at higher levels of the organization for the following purposes:

To elaborate, consolidate, and build on the consensus of the decision makers; and

To ensure (and improve) coordination among the various segments of the organization. A shared commitment to agreed common aims develops among the parties as they work together to clarify issues, formulate strategies, and develop action plans.

For example, the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs is a group of twelve federal agencies within the executive branch of the U.S. government, and is responsible for promoting achievement of positive results for at-risk youth. This working group was formally established by Executive Order 13459, Improving the Coordination and Effectiveness of Youth Programs, on February 7, 2008.

Musical working groups

Although any artisan or artist can benefit from being part of a working group, it is especially of great import for session players. Musicians face a variety of challenges that can impede the formation of musical working groups, such as touring and studio recording sessions. Such activities make it that much more difficult to concentrate on the developing the cohesiveness that is required to maintain a working group.

However, working groups have been shown to be rewarding to the stakeholders, as it fosters innovation. By working with the same people frequently, members become familiar with the répertoire of other members, which develops trust and encourages spontaneity.

Some of the more notable musical working groups include:

Abdullah Ibrahim Trio;

Alex von Schlippenbach Trio;

Dave Holland (Trio, Quartet, or Quintet);

Die Like A Dog Quartet;

Gary Bartz Quartet;

Vandermark 5; and

William Parker Quartet (Trio/Quartet).

[edit]Technical working groups

In many technical organizations, for example Standards organizations, the groups that meet and make decisions are called "working groups". Examples include:

IETF working groups (which are subordinate to Areas)

HTTP WG, original led by Dave Raggett

ISO working groups (which are subordinate to an SC (subcommittee), subordinate to a TC (technical committee)

W3C working groups

Device Description Working Group

Technical Architecture Group

SVG Working Group

In some cases, like the Printer Working Group, an entire consortium uses the term "working group" for itself.

The rules for who can be a part of the working groups, and how a working group makes decisions, varies considerably between organizations.

Mechanics

It is imperative for the participants to appreciate and understand that the working group is intended to be a forum for cooperation and participation. Participants represent the interests and views of stakeholders from disparate sectors of the community which happen to have a vested interest in the results of the WG. Therefore, maintaining and strengthening communication lines with all parties involved is essential (this responsibility cuts both ways — stakeholders are expected to share what information, knowledge and expertise they have on the issue.)

Programmes developed should be evaluated by encouraging community input and support; this will ensure that such programmes meet the community's vision for its future. The WG should also regularly seek community feedback on their projects. Apropos questions to be asked during such meetings include:

What were the objectives of the program?

What were the results of the project?

What effect did the results have on the identified problem?

What unexpected results — desirable or otherwise — were observed?

How were the results achieved? (Was it by the methods and techniques originally intended, or did these evolve with implementation?)

Was there an effective use of community resources?

Should our objective or methods be changed?

Depending on the lifespan of the WG, involved parties (at the very least) convene annually. However, such meetings may happen as often as once every semester or trimester.

(source:wikipedia)

Air Europa

Air Europa Líneas Aéreas, S.A.U. is the third largest airline in Spain after Iberia and Vueling. The airline is headquartered in the Centro Empresarial Globalia in Llucmajor, Majorca, Spain. It operates inclusive tour services between northern and western Europe and holiday resorts in the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. It also operates domestic scheduled services and long-haul scheduled services to North America and South America. Its main base is Palma de Mallorca Airport, Palma de Mallorca.

The airline is 100% owned by Globalia, a travel and tourism company managed by Juan Jose Hidalgo. Since September 2007 the airline has been a member of the SkyTeam alliance. During the last ten years its operations have gradually shifted ever more to focusing on scheduled flights.

History

Boeing 737-800 landing at Bristol Airport

Air Europa started in 1986 (registered in Spain as Air España SA and previously known as such) as part of the British ILG-Air Europe Group and 75% owned by Spanish banks. It originally had a similar livery to Air Europe but with Air Europa titles, aircraft were registered in Spain and flew holiday charters from Mediterranean resorts and European cities using a Boeing 737-300. It was the first Spanish private company to operate national scheduled flights (besides charter flights which used to be its main business). When parent company ILG ceased trading in 1991 Air Europa continued profitably with a larger fleet of Boeing 737s. It signed a franchise agreement with Iberia in January 1998, but this has since been dissolved. It is now owned by Globalia Corporación Empresarial S.A. At the end of the 1990s Boeing 737-800 jets were introduced along with a new livery. In June 2005 it was announced among the four future associate members of SkyTeam alliance, due to join by 2006. However, the joining date was postponed, and became a member on 1 September 2007.

[edit]Destinations

Main article: Air Europa destinations

[edit]Codeshare agreements

Air Europa has codeshare agreements with the following airlines, beside SkyTeam members:

Spanair (Star Alliance)

Air Europa was the parent company for Air Dominicana, the new flag carrier of the Dominican Republic, until bankruptcy was declared on 21 September 2009.[6]

Also in the summer season, Air Europa operates for some TCX * Thomas Cook charter flights, normally from their main base of Palma de Mallorca (PMI) (LEPA)

[edit]Fleet

Boeing 737-85P at Madrid Barajas Airport

Boeing 767-300ER

[edit]Current fleet

The Air Europa fleet consists of the following aircraft as of January 2011:[7]

Air Europa Fleet

Aircraft In Fleet Orders Options Passengers

(Business/Economy) Average Age (years)[8]

Airbus A330-200 7 0 0 299 (24/275) 4.7

Boeing 737-800 25 34 0 186 (0/186) 8.1

Boeing 767-300ER 2 0 0 263 (18/245) 9.9

Boeing 787-8 0 8 8 TBA -

Embraer E-195 8 3 0 122 (0/122) 1.2

Total 42 45 8 7.5

[edit]Historic fleet

Air Europa used to operate the following aircraft:

Air Europa Historic Fleet

Aircraft Total Location

Airbus A340-200 1 With Conviasa

Boeing 757-200 16 1 with Jet2.com, 1 with SBA Airlines.

McDonnell Douglas MD-83 1 Stored

[edit]Incidents and accidents

On 27 October 2007, a Boeing 737-800 chartered by the UN destroyed dozens of approach and landing lights whilst making a low approach at Poland's Katowice International Airport.[9] No passengers were reported injured but the aircraft suffered extensive damage to the fuselage and engines.

On 31 October 2008, Air Europa Flight 196 from Glasgow overran the runway at Lanzarote Airport. No injuries were reported amongst the 74 passengers and crew.

(source:wikipedia)

Iberia:Líneas Aéreas de España

Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport.

Iberia Airlines, with Iberia Regional (operated by an independent carrier Air Nostrum), is a part of Iberia Group. In addition to transporting passengers and freight, Iberia Group carries out related activities, such as aircraft maintenance, handling in airports, IT systems and in-flight catering. Iberia Group airlines fly to over 102 destinations in 39 countries. Via code-sharing arrangements with other companies, it offers flights to another 90 destinations.

On 12 November 2009, Iberia Airlines confirmed that it had reached a preliminary agreement to merge with British Airways. The merger between the two carriers will create the world's third-largest airline in terms of revenue. On 8 April 2010, it was confirmed that British Airways and Iberia had signed an agreement to merge, making the combined operation the third largest commercial airline in the world by revenue. The newly merged company will be known as International Airlines Group, although both airlines will continue to operate under their current brands. Both airlines are expected to complete their merger in January 2011. On November 29, 2010, shareholders from both carriers approved the merger.

History

History of Iberia Airlines

Iberia, Compañía Aérea de Transportes was incorporated on 28 June 1927 with a capital investment by the financier Horacio Echeberrieta and Lufthansa of 1.1 million pesetas. Flight operations started on 14 December 1927. Within a year, the company was sponsored by the Spanish government to provide postal transport between Madrid and Barcelona. During the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera, the aviation companies in Spain were combined and became state-controlled as a general interest public utility, coming into effect in early 1928. As a consequence, Iberia was merged into Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas S.A. (C.L.A.S.S.A.) and ceased activities on 29 May 1929. The name "Iberia" continued to be registered by Director-General Daniel de Araoz y Aréjula. As the name "Iberia" was still registered, it was used when operations began in nationalist-held territory towards the end of the Spanish Civil War. Following the Civil War, it became a purely domestic airline.

Airbus A320.

The airline was nationalised on 30 September 1944 and became part of INI. In 1946, it was the first airline to fly between Europe and South America after WWII, using a Douglas DC-4 flying from Madrid to Buenos Aires. By the Pact of Madrid in 1953, visa requirements were eliminated for US visitors to Spain. This stimulated the start of transatlantic flights between Spain and United States the following year. In addition, the amendments made in Montreal to the Convention on International Civil Aviation on 14 June 1954 were liberal to Spain, allowing mass tourism using charter planes.

Airbus A319 in retro colour scheme.

By the time of its 50th anniversary in 1981, the Boeing 747 airline carried over 10 million passengers in a year for the first time. In the late 1980s/early 1990s, Iberia also began to build up interests in other Spanish airlines – Aviaco, Viva Air, Binter Canarias and Binter Mediterraneo and Latin American airlines – Aerolíneas Argentinas, Viasa and Ladeco.

In 1987 Iberia together with Lufthansa, Air France and SAS founded Amadeus, an IT company (also known as a GDS) that would enable travel agencies to sell the founders and other airlines' products from a single system.

During 2001 Iberia was privatised and shares were listed on stock exchanges. By 2002, when Iberia celebrated its 75th anniversary, nearly 500 million people had flown with them.

On 5 February 2006 the new Terminal 4 at Madrid Barajas was given over to Iberia and the Oneworld alliance members. This provided much-needed expansion capabilities for Iberia. Iberia is responsible for around 60% of the airport's traffic. In 2005 the airline and its regional branch Air Nostrum transported 21,619,041 passengers to/from Barajas.

Ownership

The head office of Iberia in Madrid

On 3 April 2001, Iberia was privatised and included in the IBEX-35 stock index of the Madrid stock exchange. The core shareholders are: Caja Madrid– 23.45%, British Airways 13.2%, SEPI– 5.20%, El Corte Inglés– 2.90%. British Airways has raised its stake in Iberia by purchasing American Airlines' remaining shares, reportedly paying £13m for the small shareholding. This increases the total stake in Iberia to around 10% and preserves its two seats on the Iberia board.British Airways also has first right to purchase another 32% of Iberia's shares. Consequently any takeover of Iberia would require the approval of British Airways.

British Airways and Iberia have recently merged.

British Airways cannot acquire more than 49% of Iberia as bilateral air services agreements between Spain and non-EU countries require Iberia to remain in overall Spanish ownership (at least 51%) if the airline is to retain its rights to fly to these countries from Spain. While the new EU-US Open Skies deal on air services removes this requirement on all flights between the EU and US by EU airlines, this is not the case for the lucrative Latin American market on which Iberia relies for the majority of its profits.

Wikinews has related news: British Airways and Iberia agree to merge

On 29 July 2008, British Airways and Iberia confirmed they are in merger talks and on 12 November 2009, they confirmed that they had reached a deal. The merger was approved by European regulators in July 2010. Iberia will hold 45% of the newly formed company.

Iberia has 24,348 employees (at March 2007).

Subsidiaries and alliances

Iberia has a 45.85% stake in low-cost carrier Vueling, which is based near Barcelona and a 0.95% share in Royal Air Maroc.

Iberia is allied with American Airlines, Qantas, Avianca, British Airways, PLUNA of Uruguay and Grupo TACA, and on 1 September 1999, the company joined the Oneworld alliance. British Airways owns 55% of its share capital.

Iberia has a codeshare agreement with several Oneworld members: Cathay Pacific on flights from Amsterdam and London Heathrow to Hong Kong, Japan Airlines on flights from Amsterdam to Tokyo Narita and Royal Jordanian from Madrid to Amman, and with LAN Airlines for flights connecting Latin America and most of Europe. Also code share with Malev Hungarian Airlines on the Madrid-Budapest service and several Malev routes within Europe and Russia

Vueling and Clickair, merged together in 2009.

Former subsidiaries

Binter was the name of two airlines, both subsidiaries of whom were subsidiaries of Iberia Airlines, both airlines flew CN-235's :

Binter Canarias - was established on 18 February 1988 and started operations on 26 March 1989. It was formed as a subsidiary of Iberia. In late 1999 SEPI (the Spanish state holding company of Iberia) implemented the privatisation of Binter Canarias, but held on to a "golden share", permitting it to authorise any future shareholding deal of more than 25%. However, the airline was wholly owned by Hesperia Inversiones Aéreas, which bought the airline in July 2002. It is now owned by Ilsamar Tenerife (49.81%), Ferma Canarias Electrica (10.44%), Agencia Maritima Afroamericana (10.11%), Flapa (10%) and others (19.6%) and has 406 employees. Some of the owners of Binter Canarias decided to buy Navegacion y Servicios Aéreos Canarios (NAYSA) and to transfer some planes from Binter to NAYSA in order to reduce costs and increase benefits.

Binter Mediterraneo - created in 1988, in the likeness of Binter Canarias, and subsidiary of Iberia LAE. The airline was based in Madrid and operated a fleet consisted of five CASA CN-235 aircraft. Binter Mediterraneo linked the city of Melilla to Malaga, Almeria, Valencia and in its last year, with Madrid. Binter ceased operations after one of its planes crashed on August 29 of 2001 in the vicinity of Malaga airport while performing the Melilla-Malaga route.acquired by Air Nostrum, another Iberia subsidiary, in 1998 and absorbed its operations. It replaced the remaining CN-235's with ATR-72's.

Services

In 2005, Iberia introduced its new Business Plus Class on its Airbus A340 aircraft.

In March 2009 Iberia announced that during the course of 2009–2011 it would renovate its economy class on all its planes as well as designing a new business class for its long haul planes.

In addition, Iberia is an aircraft maintenance company , servicing its fleet and those of another 48 companies, including some leading European airlines. Iberia is a supplier of aircraft handling services at all Spanish airports; its airline clients number more than 200.

Iberia was a founding partner in the computerised air ticket reservation system, Amadeus, with an 18.28% stake – this was sold in 2005. Iberia is also active as a tour operator through its Viva Tours and Tiempo Libre units, and with Cacesa, it supplies parcel shipment services.

Iberia Airlines makes use of e-tickets and encourages customers to print the boarding pass prior to their flight. Travellers with only carry-on baggage can go directly to the boarding gate. e-tickets sales accounted for 93% of all Iberia tickets sold in January 2006. In Spain identification of the traveller by means of an identity document or passport is mandatory for all airlines on all routes, including Spanish domestic ones.

Destinations

Iberia destinations

Iberia is the only European Airline to serve Guatemala City , Córdoba, San Salvador and Montevideo. Currently, Iberia is striving to convert Barcelona's El Prat airport into its second major international HUB; new long haul routes to Miami and Sao Paulo - where Iberia has codeshare agreements with American Airlines and Gol Airlines, respectively - will begin the 29th March.

Codeshare agreements

Iberia has codeshare agreement with the following airlines, * indicates as Oneworld:

Air Malta

American Airlines *

Avianca

British Airways *

Bulgaria Air

Comair *

Czech Airlines (SkyTeam)

El Al

Finnair *

Gol Transportes Aéreos

Grupo TACA

Iberworld

Japan Airlines *

LAN Airlines *

Malév Hungarian Airlines *

Meridiana fly

PLUNA

Qantas *

Royal Air Maroc

Royal Jordanian *

S7 Airlines *

Ukraine International Airlines

Vueling Airlines

Catering

Gate Gourmet provides Iberia's in-flight catering. Economy class passengers traveling within western Europe have a buy on board food programme called "Tu Menú."

Fleet

An Iberia Boeing 747-200 (currently Retired)

See also: Air Nostrum

The Iberia fleet consists of the following aircraft as of 28 July 2010:

Iberia Airlines Fleet

Aircraft Total Orders Passengers

P Y

Total

Airbus A319-100 23 3 44 78 122

Airbus A320-200 42 17 18 162 180

Airbus A321-200 19 — 46 154 200

Airbus A330-300 — 16 36 241 277

Airbus A340-300 18 — 42 218 260

Airbus A340-600 18 — 52 291 343

Total 120 28

In October 2010, the average age of the Iberia fleet was 7.8 years.

Iberia's livery is a Eurowhite scheme, composed of primarily white with red and yellow accents.

Fleet development

Over the years, Iberia operated the following aircraft types:

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Aircraft Introduced Retired

Airbus A300 1981 2003

Airbus A319 2000

Airbus A320 1990

Airbus A321 1999

Airbus A340-300 1996

Airbus A340-600 2004

Boeing 727-200 1972 2001

Boeing 737-300 1988 1990

Boeing 737-400 1998 2001

Boeing 747-100 1970 1981

Boeing 747-200 1972 2005

Boeing 747-300 2000 2005

Boeing 747-400 2004 2006

Boeing 757-200 1993 2006

Boeing 767-300 1998 2001

Douglas DC-1 1939 1940

Douglas DC-2

Douglas DC-3

Douglas DC-4

Douglas DC-8

Douglas DC-9

Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1997 1998

McDonnell Douglas DC-10 1973 2005

McDonnell Douglas MD-87 1990 2008

McDonnell Douglas MD-88 1999 2008

Sud Caravelle

Incidents and accidents

History of Iberia Airlines#Incidents and accidents

On 9 November 2007 an Iberia Airbus A340-600 was badly damaged after sliding off the runway at Mariscal Sucre International Airport. No injuries were reported. According to Airbus, the aircraft was written-off.

On 31 July 2008 an Iberia McDonnell Douglas MD-88, on flight IB3575 from Vienna to Madrid with 126 passengers and 6 crew, made an emergency landing after a burst tire was ingested by the engine. No injuries were reported.

(source:wikipedia)

Madrid-Barajas Airport

Madrid-Barajas Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto-Madrid-Barajas Internacional) (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD) is the main international airport serving Madrid in Spain. In 2010, over 49.8 million passengers used Madrid-Barajas, making it the country's largest and busiest airport, and in 2009 it was the world's 11th busiest airport and Europe's fourth busiest airport. It opened in 1928, and has grown to be one of the most important aviation centres of Europe. Located within the city limits of Madrid, just 9 km (5.6 mi) from the city's financial district and 13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of the Puerta del Sol, Madrid's historic centre. The airport name derives from the adjacent district of Barajas, which has its own metro station on the same rail line serving the airport.

The Madrid-Barcelona air shuttle service, known as the "Puente Aéreo" (in Spanish), literally "Air Bridge", is the busiest air route in Europe, with the highest number of flight operations (971 per week) before 2007. The schedule has been reduced since February 2008, when the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line was opened, covering the distance in 2½ hours, and quickly became popular. Barajas serves as the gateway to the Iberian peninsula from the rest of Europe and the world, and is a particularly key link between Europe and Latin America. The airport is the primary hub and maintenance base for Iberia. Consequently, Iberia is responsible for more than 60 percent of Barajas' traffic.

History

The airport was first constructed in 1927, opening to national and international air traffic on 22 April 1931, although regular commercial operations began two years later. A small terminal was constructed with a capacity for 30,000 passengers a year, in addition to several hangars and the building of the Avión Club. The first regular flight was established by Líneas Aéreas Postales Españolas (LAPE) with its line to Barcelona. Later, in the 1930s international flights started to serve some European and African destinations.

Originally, the flight field was a large circle bordered in white with the name of Madrid in its interior, unpaved, consisting of land covered with natural grass. It was not until the 1940s that the flight field was paved and new runways were designed. The first runway which started operation in 1944 was 1400 metres long and 45 metres wide. By the end of the decade the airport had three runways, none of which exists today. In the late 1940s scheduled flights to Latin America and the Philippines started.

In the 1950s the airport supported over half a million passengers, increasing to 5 runways and scheduled flights to New York City began. The National Terminal, currently T2, began construction in 1954, and was inaugurated later that year. In the Plan of Airports of 1957, Barajas Airport is classified as a first-class international airport. By the 1960s large jets were landing at Barajas, and the growth of traffic mainly as a result of tourism exceeded forecasts. At the beginning of the decade, the airport reached the 1.2 million passengers, double that envisaged in the Plan of Airports of 1957.

In the 1970s, with the boom in tourism and the arrival of the Boeing 747, the airport reached 4 million passengers, and began the construction of the international terminal (current T1). In 1974, Iberia, L.A.E. introduced the shuttle service between Madrid and Barcelona, a service with multiple daily frequencies and available without prior reservation.

The 1982 FIFA World Cup brought significant reforms to the airport, with the expansion and reform of the two existing terminals.

In the 1990s the airport expanded further. In 1994, the first cargo terminal was constructed, and the control tower was renovated. In 1997, it opened the North Dock, which is used as an exclusive terminal for Iberia's Schengen flights. In 1998 it inaugurated a new control tower, 71m tall, and then in 1999 the new South Dock opened, which implies an expansion of the international terminal. During this time, the distribution of the terminals changed: The south dock and most of the International Terminal were now called T1, the rest of the International Terminal and Domestic Terminal were now called T2 and the north dock was called T3.

In November 1998, the new runway 18R-36L started operations (replacing the previous 18-36), 4,400m long, one of the largest in Europe under expansion plans called Major Barajas. In 2000 it began the construction of new terminals T4 and its satellite, T4S, designed by architects Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers, and two parallel runways to the existing ones.

The new terminals and runways were completed in 2004, but administrative delays and equipment, as well as the controversy over the redeployment of terminals, delayed service until 5 February 2006.

In 2007, the airport processed more than 50 million passengers.

Barajas today

Terminal 4 houses all Iberia and Vueling flights along with all Oneworld alliance member airlines which include British Airways, American Airlines, LAN Airlines, Finnair, among others. Terminals T1, T2, and T3 handle Air Europa and Spanair, as well as all member airlines of SkyTeam and Star Alliance.

Terminal 4, designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers (winning team of the 2006 Stirling Prize), and TPS Engineers, (winning team of the 2006 IStructE Award for Commercial Structures) was built by Ferrovial and inaugurated on February 5, 2006. Terminal 4 is one of the world's largest airport terminals in terms of area, with 760,000 square meters (8,180,572 square feet) in separate landside and airside structures. It consists of a main building, T4 (470,000 m²), and a satellite building, T4S (290,000 m²), which are approximately 2.5 km apart. The new Terminal 4 is meant to give passengers a stress-free start to their journey. This is managed through careful use of illumination, with glass panes instead of walls, and numerous domes in the roof which allow natural light to pass through. With this new addition, Barajas is designed to handle 70 million passengers annually.

During the construction of Terminal 4, two more runways (15L/33R and 18L/36R) were constructed to aid in the flow of air traffic arriving and departing from Barajas. These runways were officially inaugurated on February 5, 2006 (together with the terminals), but had already been used on several occasions beforehand to test flight and air traffic manoeuvres. Thus, Barajas came to have four runways: two on a north-south axis and parallel to each other (separated by 1.8 km) and two on a northwest-southeast axis (and separated by 2.5 km). This allowed simultaneous takeoffs and landings into the airport, allowing 120 operations an hour (one takeoff or landing every 30 seconds).

Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are adjacent terminals that are home to SkyTeam and Star Alliance airlines, as well as Air Europa. Terminal 4 is home to Iberia, its franchise Air Nostrum and all Oneworld partner airlines. Gate numbers are continuous in terminals 1, 2 and 3 (A1 to E89), but are separately numbered in terminal 4.

Barajas was voted "Best Airport" in the 2008 Condé Nast Traveller Reader Awards

In December 2010, the Spanish government announced plans to tender Madrid-Barajas aiport to companies in the private sector for a period of up to 40 years. 

Terminal 4 check in hall in 2008

Traffic and statistics

Passenger numbers

Passengers Aircraft Movements Cargo (tonnes)

2001 34,050,215 375,558 295,944

2002 33,915,302 368,029 295,711

2003 35,855,861 383,804 307,026

2004 38,718,614 401,503 341,177

2005 42,146,784 415,704 333,138

2006 45,799,983 434,959 325,702

2007 52,110,787 483,292 325,201

2008 50,846,494 469,746 329,187

2009 48,437,147 435,187 302,863

2010 49,863,504 433,683 373,380

Source: Aena Statistics 

Route statistics

Busiest International Routes from Madrid-Barajas (2010)

Rank City Passengers Top Carriers

1 Rome-Fiumicino, Italy 1,268,541 Air Europa, Alitalia, EasyJet, Iberia, Vueling Airlines

2 Lisbon, Portugal 1,167,329 Air Europa, EasyJet, Iberia, Portugalia Airlines, TAP Portugal, Vueling Airlines

3 Paris-Orly, France 1,106,423 Air Europa, Iberia

4 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1,103,658 EasyJet, Iberia, KLM, Korean Air

5 London-Heathrow, United Kingdom 1,089,145 British Airways, Iberia

6 Paris-Charles de Gaulle, France 1,020,860 Air France, EasyJet, LAN Airlines, Vueling Airlines

7 Frankfurt, Germany 903,318 Iberia, LAN Airlines, Lufthansa, Spanair

8 Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Argentina 857,645 Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, Iberia

9 New York-JFK, United States 709,747 Air Europa, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Iberia

10 Milan-Malpensa, Italy 628,570 EasyJet, Iberia, Lufthansa

11 Munich, Germany 628,517 Iberia, Lufthansa, Lufthansa CityLine

12 London-Gatwick, United Kingdom 601,995 Air Europa, EasyJet, Ryanair

13 Brussels, Belgium 563,674 Brussels Airlines, Iberia

14 Mexico City, Mexico 519,999 Aeroméxico, Iberia

15 Lima, Peru 507,535 Air Europa, Iberia, LAN Perú

16 São Paulo-Guarulhos, Brazil 494,359 Air China, Iberia, TAM Airlines

17 Zürich, Switzerland 488,450 Iberia, Swiss International Air Lines

18 Venice-Marco Polo, Italy 478,889 Air Europa, Iberia, Vueling

19 Bogotá, Colombia 453,364 Avianca, Iberia

20 Geneva, Switzerland 427,110 EasyJet Switzerland, Iberia, Uzbekistan Airways

21 Porto, Portugal 410,587 Air Nostrum, Portugalia Airlines, Ryanair

22 Miami, United States 407,468 Air Europa, American Airlines, Iberia

23 Havana, Cuba 393,706 Air Europa, Cubana de Aviación, Iberia, Iberworld

24 Caracas, Venezuela 385,913 Air Europa, Conviasa, Iberia, Santa Bárbara Airlines

25 Athens, Greece 376,853 Aegean Airlines, Air Europa, Iberia

26 Santiago de Chile, Chile 351,379 Iberia, LAN Airlines

27 Dublin, Ireland 330,775 Aer Lingus, Iberia, Ryanair

28 Istanbul-Atatürk, Turkey 318,903 Iberia, Turkish Airlines

29 Cancún, Mexico 311,917 Air Europa

30 Beijing, China 311,792 Air China

Busiest Domestic Routes from Madrid-Barajas (2010)

Rank City Passengers Top Carriers

1 Barcelona, Catalonia 3,106,678 Air Europa, Iberia, Spanair, Vueling Airlines

2 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands 1,694,854 Air Berlin, Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair

3 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 1,561,475 Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair

4 Tenerife-North, Canary Islands 1,316,014 Air Europa, Iberia, Spanair

5 Valencia, Valencian Community 1,023,681 Air Nostrum, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair

6 Alicante, Valencian Community 884,006 Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair

7 Bilbao, Basque Country 837,966 Iberia, Spanair

8 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia 836,415 Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair

9 Vigo, Galicia 663,285 Air Europa, Iberia

10 Malaga, Andalusia 618,505 Iberia, Spanair

11 Ibiza, Balearic Islands 611,481 Air Europa, Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Spanair, Vueling Airlines

12 A Coruña, Galicia 609,758 Iberia, Spanair

13 Lanzarote, Canary Islands 581,010 Air Europa, EasyJet, Iberia, Iberworld, Ryanair, Spanair

14 Asturias, Principality of Asturias 560,267 Air Europa, Iberia

15 Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia 449,107 Iberia, Ryanair

16 Tenerife-South, Canary Islands 403,938 Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair

17 Seville, Andalusia 385,115 Iberia

18 Santander, Cantabria 370,696 Air Nostrum, Ryanair

19 Fuerteventura, Canary Islands 366,229 Air Europa, EasyJet, Iberia, Iberworld, Spanair

20 Granada, Andalusia 335,437 Iberia

Terminals, airlines and destinations

A Germanwings Airbus A319-100 parked at a gate

Note: † denotes charter flights and their destinations

Airlines Destinations Terminal

Aegean Airlines Athens 2

Aer Lingus Dublin, Washington-Dulles 1

Aeroflot Moscow-Sheremetyevo 1

Aerolíneas Argentinas Buenos Aires-Ezeiza 1

Aeroméxico Mexico City 1

Aerosur Santa Cruz de la Sierra 1

Air Algérie Algiers 4

Air Berlin Palma de Mallorca 2

Air Canada Seasonal: Toronto-Pearson 1

Air China Beijing-Capital, São Paulo-Guarulhos 1

Air Europa Arrecife, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Cancun, Caracas, Dakar, Havana, Lima, London-Gatwick, Marrakech, Mexico City [begins 2 June], Miami, New York–JFK, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Tunis

Seasonal: Montego Bay 1

Air Europa Asturias, Athens, Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Ibiza, Gran Canaria, Lisbon, Minorca, Palma de Mallorca, Paris-Orly, Rome-Fiumicino, Santiago de Compostela, Tenerife-North, Tenerife-South, Venice, Vigo 2

Air France Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2

Air Moldova Chisinau 1

Air Transat Seasonal: Montréal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson 1

AirBaltic Seasonal: Riga 2

Alitalia Milan-Linate, Rome-Fiumicino 2

American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York–JFK 4

Armavia Yerevan [begins 31 March] 1

Avianca Bogotá, Cali, Medellín 4

Blue Air Bucharest-Băneasa, Sibiu 1

British Airways London-Heathrow 4

British Airways operated by BA CityFlyer London-City 4

Brussels Airlines Brussels 2

Bulgaria Air Sofia 4

Continental Airlines Newark 1

Conviasa Caracas 1

Cubana de Aviación Havana, Santiago de Cuba 1

Czech Airlines Prague 4

Delta Air Lines Atlanta, New York–JFK 1

EasyJet Amsterdam, Berlin-Schönefeld, Bordeaux, Bristol, Bucharest-Henri Coandă, Casablanca, Edinburgh, Ibiza, Lanzarote [resumes 24 June], Lisbon, Liverpool, London-Gatwick, London-Luton, Lyon, Marrakech, Milan-Malpensa, Naples, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Rome-Fiumicino, Tangier, Toulouse, Venice 1

EasyJet Switzerland Basel/Mulhouse, Geneva 1

EgyptAir Cairo 1

El Al Tel Aviv 4

Emirates Dubai 4

Finnair Helsinki 4

Germanwings Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart [all end 25 March] 1

Iberia A Coruña, Algiers, Alicante, Amsterdam, Asturias, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin-Tegel, Bilbao, Bogotá, Bologna, Boston, Brussels, Bucharest-Otopeni (resumes 20 July), Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Cairo, Caracas, Casablanca, Chicago-O'Hare, Copenhagen, Córdoba, Dakar, Düsseldorf, Fortaleza, Frankfurt, Fuerteventura [ends 15 April], Geneva, Granada, Gran Canaria, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Havana, Istanbul-Atatürk, Jerez de la Frontera, Johannesburg, La Palma, Lagos, Lanzarote [ends 15 April], Lima, Lisbon, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles [resumes 28 March][10], Luanda [starts September], Malabo, Malaga, Marrakech, Mexico City, Miami, Milan-Linate, Milan-Malpensa, Montevideo, Moscow-Domodedovo, Munich, New York–JFK, Oran, Palma de Mallorca [ends 15 April], Pamplona [ends 31 March], Panama City, Paris-Orly, Prague, Quito, Recife, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, Rome-Fiumicino, San José de Costa Rica, San Juan, San Salvador, San Sebastián [ends 31 March], Santiago de Chile, Santiago de Compostela, Santo Domingo, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Seville, Stockholm-Arlanda, Tangier, Tel Aviv, Tenerife-North, Tenerife-South, Valencia [ends 31 March], Venice, Vienna, Vigo, Zürich

Seasonal: Damascus, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Saint Petersburg, Zagreb 4

Iberia operated by Air Nostrum Almería, Badajoz, Bologna, Bordeaux, Dublin [starts 1 May], Düsseldorf, Genoa, Granada [starts 1 April], Ibiza [starts 1 April], La Palma [starts 21 July], Leon, Lisboa [ends 31 March], Logroño, Lyon, Marseille, Marrakech, Melilla, Milan-Malpensa [starts 1 April], Minorca, Montpellier, Munich [begins 1 April], Murcia, Nantes, Naples, Nice, Paris-Orly [starts 1 April], Pamplona [starts 1 April], Pisa, Porto, San Sebastián [starts 1 April], Santander, Strasbourg, Tangier, Toulouse, Turin, Valencia, Vitoria

Seasonal: A Coruña, Asturias, Catania, Corfu, Malta, Olbia 4

Iberworld † Aswan, Cozumel, Fuerteventura, Luxor, Punta Cana, Salvador da Bahía, Tangier [begins 23 March] 1

Icelandair Seasonal: Reykjavik-Keflavik 1

KLM Amsterdam 2

Korean Air Amsterdam, Seoul-Incheon 1

LAN Airlines Frankfurt, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Santiago de Chile 4

LAN Ecuador Guayaquil, Quito 4

LAN Perú Lima 4

Libyan Airlines Tripoli 1

LOT Polish Airlines Warsaw 2

Lufthansa Frankfurt, Milan-Malpensa, Munich 2

Lufthansa Regional operated by Lufthansa CityLine Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich 2

Luxair Luxembourg 4

Malév Hungarian Airlines Budapest 4

Meridiana Fly Florence 4

Mint Airways Cairo 1

Niki Vienna [begins 28 March] 1

Qatar Airways Doha 1

Royal Air Maroc Casablanca, Marrakech 4

Royal Jordanian Amman 4

Ryanair Alghero, Alicante, Almería, Ancona, Bari, Beauvais, Bergamo, Bologna, Brussels South-Charleroi, Cagliari, Dublin, Eindhoven, Faro, Fez, Girona [ends 3 May], Hahn, Ibiza, Jerez de la Frontera, Krakow, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, London-Gatwick, London-Stansted, Malta, Manchester [begins 13 April], Marrakech, Marseille, Moss-Rygge, Nador, Oujda, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, Porto, Rome-Ciampino, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, Stockholm-Skavsta, Tangier, Tenerife-South, Trapani, Turin, Valencia [ends 26 March], Verona, Weeze 1

S7 Airlines Moscow-Domodedovo 4

Sata Internacional Seasonal: Ponta Delgada, Terceira 1

Santa Bárbara Airlines Caracas 1

Saudi Arabian Airlines Jeddah, Riyadh 1

SAS Scandinavian Airlines Copenhagen

Seasonal: Oslo-Gardermoen, Bergen 2

Spanair A Coruña, Alicante, Asturias, Barcelona, Bilbao, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Fuerteventura, Ibiza, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Málaga, Minorca, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Stockholm-Arlanda [begins 2 July], Tenerife-North, Valencia, Vigo

Seasonal: Belgrade 2

Swiss International Air Lines Geneva, Zürich 2

Syrian Air Damascus 4

TACV Sal 1

TAM Airlines São Paulo-Guarulhos 1

TAP Portugal Funchal, Lisbon 2

TAP operated by Portugalia Airlines Lisbon, Porto 2

TAROM Bucharest-Henri Coandă, Cluj-Napoca [ends 27 March] 4

Thai Airways International Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi 1

Transavia Rotterdam 1

Travel Service Budapest, Prague 2

Tunisair Tozeur, Tunis 1

Turkish Airlines Istanbul-Atatürk 1

Ukraine International Airlines Kiev-Boryspil, Lviv 4

US Airways Philadelphia

Seasonal: Charlotte [begins 14 May] 1

Uzbekistan Airways Geneva, Tashkent 4

Vueling Alicante [starts 1 April], Bucharest-Henri Coandă, Barcelona, Fuerteventura [starts 16 April], Ibiza, Lanzarote [starts 16 April], Lisbon, Malaga [starts 1 April], Malta, Minorca, Palma de Mallorca [starts 1 April], Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Rome-Fiumicino, Venice, Warsaw 4

Wizz Air Bucharest-Băneasa, Budapest, Cluj-Napoca, Katowice, Prague, Sofia, Târgu Mureş [begins 19 June], Timişoara

Seasonal: Warsaw 1

Cargo airlines

Airlines Destinations

DHL Aviation Beijing-Capital, Copenhagen, Miami

FedEx Feeder operated by Air Contractors Dublin, Paris-Charles de Gaulle

Flyant

Gestair Cargo Maastricht/Aachen

TNT Airways Brussels

Turkish Airlines Cargo Istanbul-Ataturk

UPS Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, London-Stansted

Ground transport

Rail

The Madrid Metro Line connects the airport with Madrid’s city centre station Nuevos Ministerios in the heart of Madrid’s financial district. The Barajas Line 8 provides a fast route from the underground stations at Terminal 2 (access to T1 and T3) and Terminal 4 into central Madrid. The metro also provides links to stations on the Spanish railway network. The first ride in the morning leaves from Nuevos Ministerios around 6:05 am, arriving at Terminals 1-2-3 around 6:30, and at Terminal 4 around 6:40.

The Nuevos Ministerios metro station allowed checking-in right by the AZCA business area in central Madrid, but this convenience has been suspended indefinitely after the building of Terminal 4. In October 2006 a bid was launched for the construction of a Cercanías link between Chamartín Station and Terminal 4. When finished in 2009, a single Cercanías Line will link Madrid Barajas Terminal 4, with Chamartín Station and Atocha AVE high-speed train stations.

EMT Bus

EMT (Madrid Municipal Transport Company) runs regular public bus services between the airport and Madrid (Avenida de América station): bus 200 runs as a complete line - dropping passengers off at departures of terminals 1, 2 and 4 before collecting passengers in the reverse order at arrivals EMT also have an express bus linking Barajas airport to Renfe's Atocha Station; the main rail station in Madrid. The EMT public night bus service N4 (nicknamed "Buho", Owl) also services from Madrid downtown (Plaza Cibeles) to Barajas (Plaza de los Hermanos Falcó y Alvarez de Toledo, 400m from the airport through a passageway above the highway).

Airport parking

Long- and short-term car parking is provided at the airport with seven public parking areas. P1 is an outdoor car park located in front of the terminal building; P2 is an indoor car park with direct access to terminals T2 and T3. A Parking 'Express' facility, available for short periods only, is located at Terminal 2, and dedicated long-term parking is also available with 1,655 spaces; a free shuttle operates between the long-stay car park and all terminals. There are also VIP car parks.

Accidents and incidents

On 30 September 1972, Douglas C-47B EC-AQE of Spantax crashed on take-off. The aircraft was being used for training duties and the student pilot over-rotated and stalled. One of the six people on board were killed.

On 27 November 1983, Avianca Flight 011 crashed while attempting to land. Flight 011 struck a series of hills, causing the plane's right wing to break off. The 747 then cartwheeled, shattering into five pieces before coming to rest upside-down. Only 11 of the 169 passengers survived - there were no survivors among the 23 crew.

On 7 December 1983, Iberia 727 Flight 350  collided during takeoff with Aviaco DC9 Flight 134.  The Aviaco DC9 had accidentally entered the runway as the Iberia flight was taking off. 135 people were killed, including 93 from the Iberia and 42 from the Aviaco.

On 15 July 2006 - The winglet of a Thai Airways International Boeing 747-400 HS-TGY operating flight TG943 from Madrid Barajas Airport in Spain to Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport cut off the tail of an Air France ERJ-145 while taxing to the runway for take-off. No injuries were reported.

On the morning of 30 December 2006, an explosion took place in the carpark building module D attached to Terminal 4. A bomb threat was phoned in at approximately 8:15 local time (7:15 GMT), with the caller stating that a car bomb carried with 800 kg of explosive would explode at 9:00 local time (8:00 GMT). After receipt of the warning, police were able to evacuate part of the airport. Later, an anonymous caller stated that ETA claims responsibility for the bombing. As a result of the explosion, two Ecuadorians who were sleeping in their cars died. The whole module D of the car park was levelled to the ground, around 40,000 tonnes of debris. It took six days to recover the body of the second victim from the rubble.

2006 Madrid Barajas International Airport bombing

On 20 August 2008, Spanair Flight JKK 5022 which was travelling to Gran Canaria, veered off to the right and into the ground while climbing immediately after lifting off from runway 36L at 14:45 local time. The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) MD-82 with registration "EC-HFP", was carrying 172 people, including 162 passengers. In the accident 154 people were killed, 2 were seriously injured and 12 were slightly injured. Prime Minister Zapatero ordered 3 days of national mourning.

Spanair Flight 5022

On 3 December 2010, during the Spanish air traffic controllers strike, Madrid-Barajas Airport remained unoperative when all spanish air traffic controllers walked out in a coordinated wildcat strike. Following the walkout, the Spanish Government authorized the Spanish military to take over air traffic control operations. On the morning of December 4, the government declared a 'State of Alert', ordering on the controllers back to work. Shortly after the measure was implemented, controllers started returning to work and the strike was called off.

(source:wikipedia)