Twenty years of Madrid-Barcelona travel have not been enough for Vueling to continue linking the two cities for another year. The restructuring of the airline’s operations and the success of high-speed rail alternatives have influenced the cancellation of the route, which will take effect on March 30.
The decision to cancel the El Prat-Barajas route was motivated by the airline’s strategic plan to focus on routes with greater growth potential, such as Barcelona-Canary Islands.
Alternatives to the Vueling route
Iberia and Air Europa will guarantee the Madrid-Barcelona route. Iberia will maintain its Puente Aéreo, offering up to 14 flights per direction per day to connect the two cities. Vueling customers will be able to purchase tickets for this route through its website, as the airline has a codeshare with Iberia.
The advantage of the train over the plane is increasingly significant: the passenger saves money (there are rail companies that offer trips from 7€ if booked in advance) and gains both in comfort (more space between travelers and internet connection) and flexibility (there are more than 40 trains daily connecting Madrid and Barcelona). In addition, the trip from one city to another does not exceed two and a half hours by AVE.