Planes over Madrid right now
Madrid’s traffic almost all goes through Barajas, one of Europe’s biggest airports, just north-east of the city.
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Live ADS-B positions within 50 km of central Madrid, updated every few seconds. Rings every 10 km.
Airports near Madrid
| Airport | Code | Distance from the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport | MAD / LEMD | 14 km north-east |
| Madrid–Torrejón Airport / Torrejón Air Base | TOJ / LETO | 22 km east |
What you see in the sky over Madrid
Barajas is about 13 km north-east of the centre, and it is the Iberia hub with long-haul flights to Latin America more than any other European airport. Depending on the wind, its arrivals and departures run north-south along the eastern edge of the city, so the north-east districts see planes low overhead.
Torrejón, a little further east, is a military air base that also handles government and some business flights. Military aircraft there often don’t appear on ADS-B maps.
Madrid is at the centre of Spain’s air routes, so flights between Barcelona, the Canary Islands, Andalusia, Portugal and the rest of Europe cross high above.
Typical traffic
- Barajas to Barcelona, the busy shuttle between Spain’s two biggest cities
- Barajas to Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Bogotá and Lima
- Barajas to the Canary Islands and the Balearics
Questions about planes over Madrid
Why do planes fly low over north-east Madrid?
They are on their way into or out of Barajas, whose runways run north-south just beyond the north-east of the city.
Why don’t I see the military plane I can hear?
Military aircraft, for example from Torrejón, often fly without broadcasting their position.
Point your phone at it
JetDex is our upcoming app: point your phone at a plane over Madrid and it tells you exactly which flight it is. Collect the planes you see and race your friends.