- The Council of Ministers gives the green light to the tender for this service on both routes, declared as Public Service Obligations (PSO).
- With this tender, the air connectivity of Extremadura with Madrid and Barcelona is guaranteed, once the current contract has ended and until October 27, 2028.
- The next contract includes improvements in the service provision and gives the Badajoz–Madrid route greater time flexibility.
The Council of Ministers has authorized the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to tender for the next service contract that will cover the operation of the Badajoz–Madrid routes and Badajoz-Barcelona until October 27, 2028, declared as Public Service Obligations (PSO). The maximum amount foreseen for this contract is 14.3 million euros (VAT not included).
The contract will be paid by the Junta de Extremadura, through the Agreement established between it and the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, for the distribution of responsibilities in the tender of these OSP routes.
With this tender, the Ministry assures the operation of the air links of Extremadura with Madrid and Barcelona, once the current contract is concluded and until October 27, 2028.
The next contract will include the improvements established in the recent modification of the obligations, defined in Order TRM/473/2026, of May 5, 2026, that provide the route Badajoz–Madrid with greater flexibility of schedules.
Improvements in the OSP service
As stated in that Order, as of October 28, 2026, the date of the start of the new service contract for the routes Badajoz–Madrid and Badajoz–Barcelona, the operating conditions of these routes will be modified, so that the first hour flight will arrive, depending on the direction of the operation, to Madrid before 9:00 a.m. or to Badajoz before 10:00 a.m. The last flight of the day will leave, depending on the meaning, less than an hour in advance of Badajoz or arrive in the Pacense capital with a minimum margin of 30 minutes regarding the closing time of Badajoz airport.
In addition, the Order specifies that the five weekly frequencies (round trip flights) required for the Badajoz–Barcelona route are, in any case, an established minimum, and these conditions, like those of the rest of the public service obligations, can be overcome for the benefit of users.
With this improvement, the Ministry responds to the suitability that it represents for users of the route Badajoz–Madrid to be able to enjoy more time in destination between the morning flight and the late afternoon flight of the same day.
These improvements show the continuous commitment and dedication given by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to all its air markets and, in particular, to those protected under public service obligations given their importance for citizens, as is the case with air links in Extremadura.