T4 Madrid-Barajas airport turns 15 years old

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the first flight departing from Terminal 4 (T4), IB2640, which covered the route between Madrid and Barcelona on February 5, 2006.

This terminal, designed by Estudio Lamela and Richard Rogers, not only significantly expanded the capacity of the Madrid-Barajas airport, but also created a global architectural landmark. In 2006 it won two of the most prestigious architecture awards: the Stirling Prize from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the 2006 International RIBA European Awards.

In 2019, the renowned British newspaper The Guardian selected the T4 as one of the best architecture works of the 21st century. “The building is a rare achievement: an airport that doesn’t make you desperate to escape”, wrote the architecture critic for the British newspaper.

Madrid-Barajas airport registered 58 million passengers in 2018 and 61.7 million in 2019, one of the highest numbers in Europe, and is capable of handling 120 flights per hour. Last year, the impact of the health crisis on travel caused these to drop to 17.1 million. A situation that will undoubtedly be temporary.