Spain Transportation Profile 2012

The majority of Spain's main railways and roads spread out from Madrid, which is centrally situated. The highway system carries the bulk of the freight and passenger traffic. In spite of its heavy use, the road network is generally insufficient. There are, for example moderately few divided highways or modern expressways, and a large number of roads are unpaved.

Railways link most large cities and connect ports with the interior. Several lines are noted for their ultramodern passenger trains. Virtually all the railways are part of a nationalized system.
Barcelona and Bilbao are the leading ports. With others of significance are Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, Gijn and Avils, in the north; and Huelva, Valencia, and Mlaga in the south. Rivers are insignificant as transportation routes.

Two national airlines serve Spain. The government-owned Iberia Air Lines flies international and domestic routes; Aviaco, an affiliate of Iberia, provides domestic flights. Numerous international carriers also serve Spain through more than 20 international airports, the largest of which are at Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona.