In a historic milestone, Binter Canarias inaugurated its operations base in Madrid (MAD), Spain, the first outside of the Canary Islands, reflecting the airline’s strategy to compete in the market between the Iberian Peninsula and the archipelago, especially in light of the planned merger between Air Europa and Iberia.
The company will operate flights between Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna (TFN) and Gran Canaria (LPA), basing three Embraer 195-E2 aircraft in Madrid and two in the Canary Islands. Up to 16 daily flights on these three key routes will be offered.
To support this operation, Binter Canarias has established its own sales office in Madrid and will self-provide ramp handling and operations services through Draco Handling, a new subsidiary that will employ 75 professionals. In addition, the airline has inaugurated a maintenance station, managed by Servicios Aerotécnicos Insulares (SATI), another company within the Binter group.
The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, the President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, and the President of Binter, Rodolfo Núñez, who cut the ribbons in the Canary Islands to commemorate the new route between the islands and Madrid.
The planes arrived in Madrid waving the flags of the Canary Islands and Madrid, being received by Aena authorities and Binter executives at Terminal 2 of the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
«Madrid is the connecting link of the Canary Islands with Spain and the rest of the world. Being present on this route has always been a dream that we are making a reality,» commented Rodolfo Núñez, President of Binter, during a press conference at the airport.
Núñez also expressed Binter Canarias’ ambition to increase its market share, especially by taking advantage of the slots expected to be relinquished by Iberia and Air Europa once the acquisition of the latter by the former is concluded. The company aims to capture between 20% and 23% of Air Europa’s market share in the future, as Núñez indicated.
Schedule of Binter Canarias flights to Madrid
Madrid – Tenerife/North starts on February 1, 2024, offering 3,696 seats per week.
- Madrid – Tenerife/North flight NT 6073 MAD 08:00 – 09:50 TFN / daily.
- Madrid – Tenerife/North flight NT 6063 MAD 12:30 – 14:20 TFN / daily.
- Madrid – Tenerife/North flight NT 6075 MAD 17:00 – 18:50 TFN / daily.
- Madrid – Tenerife/North flight NT 6065 MAD 20:00 – 21:50 TFN / daily.
- Tenerife/North – Madrid flight NT 6062 TFN 08:00 – 11:40 MAD / daily.
- Tenerife/North – Madrid flight NT 6072 TFN 11:00 – 14:40 MAD / daily.
- Tenerife/North – Madrid flight NT 6064 TFN 15:30 – 19:10 MAD / daily.
- Tenerife/North – Madrid flight NT 6074 TFN 20:30 – 00:10 (+1) MAD / daily.
Madrid – Gran Canaria starts from February 1, 2024, also offering 3,696 seats per week.
- Madrid – Gran Canaria flight NT 6017 MAD 07:00 – 08:50 LPA / daily.
- Madrid – Gran Canaria flight NT 6007 MAD 12:30 – 14:20 LPA / daily.
- Madrid – Gran Canaria flight NT 6015 MAD 17:00 – 18:50 LPA / daily.
- Madrid – Gran Canaria flight NT 6005 MAD 20:00 – 21:50 LPA / daily.
- Gran Canaria – Madrid flight NT 6002 LPA 08:00 – 11:40 MAD / daily.
- Gran Canaria – Madrid flight NT 6012 LPA 10:00 – 13:40 MAD / daily.
- Gran Canaria – Madrid flight NT 6004 LPA 15:30 – 19:10 MAD / daily.
- Gran Canaria- Madrid flight NT 6014 LPA 20:30 – 00:10 (+1) MAD / daily.
Madrid-Canary Islands, a highly competitive market
The Madrid-Canary Islands route is one of the most active markets in Spain and Europe, with approximately between 26 and 30 daily flights operated by airlines such as Air Europa, Iberia Express, and Ryanair.
According to Aena, in 2023, 1,058,661 passengers were moved from Madrid to Tenerife/North and another 1,189,844 travelers from Gran Canaria to the Spanish capital.
See Also: What it’s like to fly on Binter’s E195 E2?
All these flights will be operated on Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, with 132 seats in a single-class configuration. Unlike many of its counterparts, Binter offers complimentary onboard services, including a solid entertainment system, snacks, and alcoholic beverages.
Currently, Binter operates nine Embraer E195-E2 aircraft and expects the delivery of 7 additional similar aircraft between 2024 and 2025, which will strengthen its links between the archipelago and Continental Europe.
Binter also manages a fleet of 27 ATR aircraft, facilitating connections between the Madeira, Canary, and West African archipelagos.
With the incorporation of Madrid, there are now 34 destinations outside the Canary Islands connected by Binter, with services to 14 airports on the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, including Vigo, A Coruña, Asturias, Santander, San Sebastián, Pamplona, Zaragoza, Valladolid, Murcia, Granada, Jerez, Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza.
In addition to national connections, Binter Canarias serves 19 international destinations in Africa and continental Europe, including cities in Italy, France, Portugal, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Cape Verde, and more.
