Only 630 kilometers separate Barcelona from Madrid, a distance that high-speed trains can cover in just 2.5 hours. However, in the last 12 months there have been 5,744 flights between the two cities, with a total of 1.17 million seats. Although airlift connectivity is expected to grow 10% in 2023 compared to 2022, it is still 22% below pre-2019 pandemic levels.
According to a report by Ecopassenger.org and the FIU, high-speed trains emit about 17.2 kg of CO2 per passenger per journey, which can be reduced to 9.6 kg per passenger per journey if renewable energy sources are used. According to the most recent data from Mabrian, this represents less than half of the carbon footprint associated with air transport. Specifically, the average carbon footprint per passenger on the BCN-MAD air route is 40 kg of CO2.
According to calculations by Mabrian, a travel intelligence provider, the total CO2 emissions generated by the airlift service in the last 12 months would amount to about 54,000 tons. This figure represents a 132% increase in emissions compared to the 27,000 tons that would be emitted by high-speed trains with the same number of passengers.
An average of 21 high-speed train lines and 16 air connections operate daily between Barcelona and Madrid. Currently, four railway companies (AVE, AVLO, OUIGO and IRYO) and three airlines (Iberia, Vueling and Air Europa) offer regular services on these routes.
When comparing prices, it should be noted that the average ticket price for a high-speed train trip between Barcelona and Madrid is around 86 euros (according to Trenes.com), while the average airfare for the air shuttle has been of approximately 89 euros each way in the last 12 months. Therefore, the prices between both means of transport are quite similar.
In terms of time, it is essential to consider that the airlift may have an advantage over the train due to its faster travel. However, it is also important to highlight the advantages of the train. Trains generally offer the convenience of departing from within cities, while airports are often located outside urban areas, which means additional energy consumption and transportation costs. In terms of total travel time by plane, the total travel time from Barcelona to Madrid is 3.5 hours, while high-speed trains complete the journey in 2.5 hours.
Furthermore, when examining the trends in seat capacity in the years leading up to the pandemic, it is clear that the air transport service faced increasing competition from high-speed trains. Rail operators have been expanding their offer and attracting more passengers, which poses a threat to the sustainability and future viability of the airlift between Barcelona and Madrid.
According to a recent study by Phocuswright, whose annual Phocuswright Europe event will take place in June in Barcelona, this situation could be due to increased competition in the Spanish railway, since its liberalization in December 2020. The first new operator, Ouigo (SNCF), The service began in May 2021 on the Madrid-Barcelona route, while the Italian company Iryo (Trenitalia) did so in November 2022 on the same route. In 2023, both operators will gradually expand their services to other high-speed routes, such as Madrid-Valencia and Madrid-Sevilla-Málaga. However, the new competition is already having an impact on rail prices. According to a recent Trainline study, prices have fallen by 43% on the now very competitive Madrid-Barcelona route,
Carlos Cendra, Mabrian's commercial and marketing director, said: “The French government regulation is a very significant precedent in Europe to reconsider the efficiency of short-haul air travel. In the short term, Spain's extensive high-speed rail infrastructure may help to simulate such restrictions. Now we must determine if rail capacity could be expanded enough to meet the full demand for these trips. This calculation must also take into account the impact of increased telecommuting, which is already reducing business travel between these routes.”
Eugene Ko, Director of Marketing and Communications at Phocuswright, adds: “More and more consumers are considering sustainable travel when making travel decisions. How to get to a destination, what travel products to choose and what to eat are aspects that are taken into account from the point of view of their environmental impact. According to the Phocuswright Sustainability in European Travel 2021 report, more than two in three travelers from all countries are likely to fly less to reduce their carbon footprint. In Spain, more than one in three intend to use the rail more frequently on their future trips.”
Phocuswright Europe, which will take place at the Hotel Barceló Sants in Barcelona from June 12 to 14, will bring together the most influential executives in the tourism sector to inspire them, learn about their ideas and connect with them.
The program of the event, based on the motto of 2023 Travelers. titans. Trailblazers, focuses on the optimism of the latest innovations, changes in demand that bring opportunity, and the advantage of size, presence, and confidence.