Airlines In Spain Say Poor Rail Links Invalidate Domestic Flight Ban Plans
BYJONATHAN E. HENDRY
PUBLISHED 17 HOURS AGO
The proposal would eliminate several domestic routes that could be conducted by train in less than two and a half hours.
Photo: Air Nostrum
SUMMARY
Airlines in Spain are pushing back at new proposed legislation that would eliminate short-haul domestic flights that could be undertaken by train in less than 2.5 hours. The move would cut the popular Madrid-Barcelona route, in addition to services from the Spanish capital to several regional hubs.
What could happen?
It was announced this week by Spanish Acting Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz that Spain could look to ban short-haul flights of less than two and a half hours when there is an alternative by train. The initiative could fit in well with Spain's 2050 climate action plan and would exclude connections with hub airports that link with international routes.
Get all the latest aviation news right here on Simple Flying.
Flag carrier Iberia would be faced with cutting at least five domestic routes from its network. Among the routes affected are services from Madrid to Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia, Alicante, and Seville. Each city pair can currently be served by a train journey of around 2.5 hours. Combined, the routes are estimated to serve 3.5 million passengers annually in both directions.
Photo: Iberia
Independent studies have found that a flight on the country's busiest domestic route, Barcelona-Madrid, produces twice as many emissions per passenger than the same journey on the train, which takes around two and a half hours.
What about capacity?
Spain has the largest high-speed rail network in Europe. However, there are currently no links to airport stations. The AVE train connection set to reach Madrid Barajas Airport in 2026 is only currently scheduled to have two trains per hour. According to the airline association, this falls short of the eight and ten hourly services required to replace short flights adequately.
SIMPLE FLYING PREVIOUSLY EXPLORED: How Spain's High-Speed Rail Network Could Affect The Country's Domestic Air Travel.Reducing domestic flights could also affect travelers from smaller Spanish cities looking to connect to intercontinental destinations. While flights connecting to international transfers would be exempted from the new rule, The President of the Association of Airlines, Javier Gandara, is concerned that passengers will opt to fly with foreign airlines instead of home carriers:
The Spanish flag carrier estimates domestic flights make up just 1% of the nation's carbon emissions.
How has it been working in France?
Speaking exclusively to Simple Flying last month, Air France's Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, Fabien Pelous, confirmed the carrier's air-to-rail links were performing well. The French flag carrier is working with the train operators, as opposed to competing against them, to ensure that passengers get the best experience.
Air France's initiative is currently split into two categories. AIR&RAIL, which links the Paris CDG to Bruxelles Midi, the Eurostar station in Belgium, and the domestic TRAIN + AIR intermodal service offered by SNCF Voyageurs Train and the airline. Passengers can buy an Air France ticket that combines a domestic train journey and an international journey by air on the same ticket.
Photo Enzojz | Shutterstock
This ticket entitles the passenger to several advantages, including assistance in the event of a missed connection, with the train leg of the ticket identified by an Air France flight number.
BYJONATHAN E. HENDRY
PUBLISHED 17 HOURS AGO
The proposal would eliminate several domestic routes that could be conducted by train in less than two and a half hours.
Photo: Air Nostrum
SUMMARY
- Spain is considering banning short-haul domestic flights under 2.5 hours if there is a train alternative, which would impact popular routes like Madrid-Barcelona.
- Iberia would have to cut at least five domestic routes, affecting cities like Barcelona, Malaga, and Valencia, which are currently served by trains in about 2.5 hours.
- While flights connecting to international transfers would be exempt, the reduction in short flights could lead to passengers choosing foreign airlines and affecting the connectivity and competitiveness of Spanish carriers.
Airlines in Spain are pushing back at new proposed legislation that would eliminate short-haul domestic flights that could be undertaken by train in less than 2.5 hours. The move would cut the popular Madrid-Barcelona route, in addition to services from the Spanish capital to several regional hubs.
What could happen?
It was announced this week by Spanish Acting Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz that Spain could look to ban short-haul flights of less than two and a half hours when there is an alternative by train. The initiative could fit in well with Spain's 2050 climate action plan and would exclude connections with hub airports that link with international routes.
Get all the latest aviation news right here on Simple Flying.
Flag carrier Iberia would be faced with cutting at least five domestic routes from its network. Among the routes affected are services from Madrid to Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia, Alicante, and Seville. Each city pair can currently be served by a train journey of around 2.5 hours. Combined, the routes are estimated to serve 3.5 million passengers annually in both directions.
Photo: Iberia
Independent studies have found that a flight on the country's busiest domestic route, Barcelona-Madrid, produces twice as many emissions per passenger than the same journey on the train, which takes around two and a half hours.
What about capacity?
Spain has the largest high-speed rail network in Europe. However, there are currently no links to airport stations. The AVE train connection set to reach Madrid Barajas Airport in 2026 is only currently scheduled to have two trains per hour. According to the airline association, this falls short of the eight and ten hourly services required to replace short flights adequately.
SIMPLE FLYING PREVIOUSLY EXPLORED: How Spain's High-Speed Rail Network Could Affect The Country's Domestic Air Travel.Reducing domestic flights could also affect travelers from smaller Spanish cities looking to connect to intercontinental destinations. While flights connecting to international transfers would be exempted from the new rule, The President of the Association of Airlines, Javier Gandara, is concerned that passengers will opt to fly with foreign airlines instead of home carriers:
Photo: Air Nostrum“The passengers who fly on these domestic routes are connecting passengers, who fly, for example, from Valencia to New York but via Madrid; if short flights are reduced, these customers will continue to fly to those destinations but from other European hubs, so they will end up polluting more, while connectivity and competitiveness in the long haul of our country is reduced.”
The Spanish flag carrier estimates domestic flights make up just 1% of the nation's carbon emissions.
How has it been working in France?
Speaking exclusively to Simple Flying last month, Air France's Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, Fabien Pelous, confirmed the carrier's air-to-rail links were performing well. The French flag carrier is working with the train operators, as opposed to competing against them, to ensure that passengers get the best experience.
Air France's initiative is currently split into two categories. AIR&RAIL, which links the Paris CDG to Bruxelles Midi, the Eurostar station in Belgium, and the domestic TRAIN + AIR intermodal service offered by SNCF Voyageurs Train and the airline. Passengers can buy an Air France ticket that combines a domestic train journey and an international journey by air on the same ticket.
Photo Enzojz | Shutterstock
This ticket entitles the passenger to several advantages, including assistance in the event of a missed connection, with the train leg of the ticket identified by an Air France flight number.