Almeria province’s early Madrid flight will continue

The Air Nostrum airline clarified on January 31 that suspending the early morning flight to Madrid was a temporary measure.

An official statement explained that the 7.10am Almeria-Madrid flight each Monday, Thursday and Friday had been put on hold between January 30 and February 14 owing to the low demand for domestic flights at this time of the year.

All of El Alquian’s Madrid flights – 21 per week in each direction – would be resumed on February 17, the communique continued.  This included the 7.10am flight on the same weekdays as usual.

Iberia, which owns the airline, contacted the Europa Press news agency following complaints from the Almeria province business owners’ association, Asempal, that it would no longer be possible to fly to Madrid and return on the same day.

“This is another blow to the province’s communications and a further obstacle to firms’ competitiveness,” Asempal’s president Cecilio Peregrin said at the time.

“This isolates us still more, considering that Almeria still lacks a high-speed rail alternative.”

The association also commented on the high price of air fares to Madrid, that at times cost “an exorbitant” €700 which, it said, was beyond the reach of most travellers.