George Bush Intercontinental to Madrid Barajas
4996 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 10h 27m with 8 airlines operating direct service from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Madrid Barajas (MAD). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $699 return), with peak prices in August (around $2097). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from George Bush Intercontinental
Houston George Bush Intercontinental is United Airlines' second-largest hub after Newark, with five terminals and a Skytrain people mover connecting them. METRO's bus 102 runs from the airport to downtown Houston in around 50 minutes; light rail does not extend to IAH. International long-haul through Houston is heaviest to Latin America (over 30 destinations) and Europe, with Lufthansa, KLM, Air France and British Airways all operating daily and growing Middle East service via Qatar, Emirates and Turkish.
Arriving in Madrid
Madrid Barajas is the largest airport in Spain and Iberia's main hub, 12 km northeast of the city. Metro Line 8 reaches Nuevos Ministerios in 16 minutes for €5. Iberia, American, Delta and United operate the US-Madrid corridor. Madrid is one of the cheapest European long-haul destinations from the US East Coast; January and February deliver the best fares year-round.
Who flies IAH to MAD?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 10h 27m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 10h 27m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 10h 27m | Economy |
| Air France | AF | 10h 27m | Economy |
| KLM | KL | 10h 27m | Economy |
| Qatar Airways | QR | 10h 27m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 10h 27m | Economy |
| Turkish Airlines | TK | 10h 27m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly IAH→MAD
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Houston to Madrid FAQs
Direct flights from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Madrid Barajas (MAD) take approximately 10h 27m for the 4996-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $699. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
8 carriers operate direct service from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Madrid Barajas (MAD): United Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Visa-free Schengen for US passport holders up to 90 days in any 180-day period. ETIAS authorisation will be required from late 2026. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Madrid Barajas (MAD) is the primary international airport for Madrid. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.