Flight time: Tenerife to Madrid
Tenerife South Airport (TFS) → Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) · medium haul · intra europe
The flight from Tenerife (TFS) to Madrid (MAD) takes approximately 2h 39m to 3h 10m gate-to-gate, covering 1,825 km (1,134 mi). This medium-haul intra europe route uses a cruise speed of 780–850 km/h with 30–50 minutes of ground and air overhead.
- Route:
- Tenerife (TFS) → Madrid (MAD)
- Distance:
- 1,825 km (1,134 mi)
- Flight time:
- 2h 39m to 3h 10m gate-to-gate
- Route type:
- medium-haul, intra europe
- Cruise speed:
- 780–850 km/h
- Ground overhead:
- 30–50 minutes included
- Over water:
- No — continental
- Origin:
- Tenerife South Airport, Spain (Atlantic/Canary)
- Destination:
- Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Spain (Europe/Madrid)
Route details
| Origin | Tenerife, Spain (TFS) |
| Destination | Madrid, Spain (MAD) |
| Distance | 1,825 km (1,134 mi) |
| Flight time (low) | 2h 39m |
| Flight time (high) | 3h 10m |
| Route type | medium-haul, intra europe |
| Cruise speed | 780–850 km/h |
| Ground overhead | 30–50 minutes |
| Over water | No — continental routing |
| Time difference | +1h (eastbound) |
Distance breakdown: Tenerife to Madrid
The 1,825-km great-circle distance between Tenerife (28.04°N, 16.57°W) and Madrid (40.50°N, 3.57°W) spans 12.5° of latitude and 13.0° of longitude, trending primarily east. In miles, this is 1,134 mi or 986 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.
Cruise speed and flight phases
At 1,825 km, this medium-haul route falls in the operational sweet spot where aircraft reach cruise altitude for a meaningful portion of the flight. Effective cruise speeds of 780–850 km/h are typical, with narrow-body aircraft (A320neo, 737 MAX) handling the lower end and wide-body aircraft achieving speeds at the upper end. The 2h 39m to 3h 10m estimate accounts for approximately 20 minutes of combined climb and descent, with the remainder at efficient cruise altitude.
Ground time and routing overhead
Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at TFS, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at MAD, and taxi-in to the gate. Taxi times at TFS are typically 5–15 minutes depending on traffic. At MAD, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between Tenerife and Madrid may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.
Return flight: Madrid → Tenerife
The return flight from Madrid to Tenerife is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.
Seasonal variation in flight times
Flight times between Tenerife and Madrid vary modestly by season — typically 10–20 minutes. Upper-level wind patterns shift with the seasons: winter generally brings stronger westerly winds at these latitudes, while summer patterns are more variable. Thunderstorm activity along the route corridor peaks in summer months, occasionally causing routing diversions that add distance. Winter operations may include de-icing delays at TFS and MAD, which extend the overall gate-to-gate time.
Airport information
Tenerife South Airport (TFS) is a regional airport serving Tenerife, Spain. Lower traffic volumes typically mean shorter taxi times and faster boarding, though flight frequency may be limited. Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) is a major international hub in Madrid, Spain. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.