Iberia has decided to cap ticket prices between Madrid and Barcelona in the midst of the rail crisis: the airline will limit its Air Bridge flights to €99 each way (economy fare) after the cancellation of the last high-speed trains of the day, a measure that will remain in effect, in principle, until February 19.
The move comes just as the suspension of AVE service for maintenance work following the Adamuz accident has triggered a surge in demand for alternatives and threatened to cause an uncontrolled rise in fares on the country’s busiest route.
Why Iberia is capping the price at €99
The reason behind the decision is to avoid leaving thousands of travelers who no longer have the option of taking the AVE in the late evening without a means of transport. The air route between Barajas and El Prat has become the most direct alternative, which has suddenly increased demand for seats. To prevent this peak from translating into exorbitant ticket prices, Iberia has announced that no economy class seat on the Madrid-Barcelona route will exceed €99 per leg for the duration of the measure.
According to the company, the price cap applies to economy class tickets on the Puente Aéreo and other regular flights between Madrid and Barcelona, and will remain in place, in principle, until February 19. The special fares for the Flexible Air Shuttle and Comfort Air Shuttle, designed for frequent travelers who need changes and extra services, will continue to operate with their usual price structure and conditions, without this limit.