Madrid-Barajas heads the biggest flights fall

MADRID’s Barajas airport is on an ongoing downward course. Last month, it lost more flights than any other European airport with a fall of 10.5 per cent compared to July 2012.

July’s dismal results continued Madrid airport’s downhill trend in May and June when flights decreased by 12.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent respectively, according to the latest report from Eurocontrol, Europe’s Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation

The fall is inextricably linked to reduced operations by Iberia, which merged with British Airways in 2011 to form IAG, which is principally based at Barajas.

In July, Iberia experienced a greater loss of daily flights than any other of the world’s 50 principal airlines, with 28.2 per cent fewer than the same month in 2012.  This continued a 30.5 per cent reduction in May and 31.2 per cent in June.

“This tendency will continue until April or   May next year,” Iberia admitted, with the blame apportioned to “reorganisation and the elimination of loss-making routes.”