Barcelona Airport

Barcelona–El Prat Airport is situated in the town of El Prat de Llobregat, 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Barcelona city centre. It is amongst the 40 largest airports in the world and is Catalonia's main airport, with more than 44 million passengers in 2016; an increase of 11.2% from 2015. The airport is the second largest and busiest in the whole of Spain, after Madrid-Barajas Airport. It is also the seventh busiest in Europe.

Airliners

The airport is a hub for several airlines, including EasyJet, Ryanair, Air Nostrum, Norwegian Air International and Vueling, as well as being a focus city for Iberia and Air Europa. The airport primarily serves domestic European destinations, whilst also having flights to many international destinations, including North America. South America, Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The Barcelona–Madrid air shuttle service, referred to as the "Puente Aéreo", was the busiest route worldwide until 2008. It had the highest number of flight operations (971 every week) in 2007. This has reduced since February 2008, when the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line was opened. This became very popular as it covered the same distance in only 2 hours 30 minutes. In 2016, there were 50% fewer air passengers on this route, but there are still 14 million more passengers in 2016 at the airport compared to 2007.

Terminals

The airport has two terminal buildings that are named Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

• Terminal 1 - This is a new terminal that was designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill and became operational in 2009. With an area of 548,000 m2 (5,900,000 sq ft), an aircraft apron of 600,000 m2 (6,500,000 sq ft), 13,000 new parking spaces and 45 new fingers which expand to 60ft, it is the fifth biggest terminal in the world. It is large enough to embrace the most sizable aircrafts, such as the Boeing 747-8I or the Airbus A380-800. Terminal 1 handles both Schengen and non-Schengen flights.

  Terminal 1 facilities include:

  • 258 check-in desks
  • 60 airbridges
  • 15 baggage carousels
  • 12,000 new parking spaces

  The building of Terminal 1 allows the airport to handle up to 55 million passengers each year, in comparison to the 30 million people before the terminal was built.

• Terminal 2 - Terminal 2 is split into three sections: Terminal 2A, 2B and 2C. Terminal 2B dates to 1968, making it the oldest part of the complex still in use. Terminals 2A and 2C were built before the Summer Olympics in 1992.

  Terminal 2 became nearly empty following the opening of Terminal 1 in 2009. This pushed the airport authorities (AENA) to lower landing fees in an effort to attract regional and low-cost carriers to use it. This has helped; however, it is still nowhere near to full capacity, with Terminal 2A currently unused.

The terminal passengers will arrive at, or depart from, will be determined by the airline they travel with. A full list of which terminal airlines fly to and from can be found here. 

Transportation

Barcelona airport has a vast transport network that allows you to connect to the city centre and beyond. The metro is one of the most popular choices, but you can also travel on the railway network, travel by bus or catch a taxi.

• Rail - Terminal 2 has its own commuter train station which runs from Macanet-Massanes station every 30 minutes, with stops including Barcelona Sants railway station and Passeig de Gràcia railway station. Click here to find out more.
• Metro - The metro connects both T1 and T2 with Barcelona underground network. The line is known as L9 Sud and stops can be found at T1, which is within the building, and T2, which is outside the building. Click here to find out more.
• Bus - Aerobus is the quickest way to reach the city centre via public transport. T1 and T2 connect with Plaça Catalunya by two separate lines. Click here for stops and ticket prices. The Rapid Bus/ALSA connects Barcelona city with various Spanish towns, such as Girona, Lleida, Murcia and Almeria.
• Taxi - Taxis are a popular way to reach Barcelona city centre and the taxi station central is conveniently located at the exit of the terminals. There is usually a queue for taxis, so be prepared to wait. The journey takes around 20 minutes from the Airport to the city centre. Private transfers can be arranged to ensure you reach your destination in a fast and stress-free manner. You can find out more information here.
• Road - If you travel by road, you will find the airport is connected to the main interchange by the C-32B highway between the city's Ronda de Dalt beltway and motorways. There are approximately 24,000 car parking spaces at the airport, so there are plenty of spaces if you need to park.

Please note that some services are only available from one of the terminals, but there is a free shuttle bus service available so you can connect between terminals. You can find out more about this shuttle bus here.

Lost & Found Department

For property lost at the airport, contact the Lost & Found Department on (+34) 932 59 64 40, or email objetosperdidosbcn@aena.es. For property lost within an aeroplane, you must contact your airline directly.

Contact the Airport

08820 El Prat de Llobregat,
Barcelona,
Spain

Telephone: (+34) 902 404 704
Email: bcninformacion@aena.es

Airport Information

Runways