World2Fly, the long-haul charter and scheduled airline of the World2Meet tourism group, launched its direct service between Madrid Adolfo Suarez Airport (MAD) and Cartagena’s Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG) on 3 July 2026. The route operates weekly on Fridays using an Airbus A350 configured for 432 passengers.
This is the first regular scheduled direct connection between Spain and Cartagena de Indias, giving the Colombian Caribbean city its own European gateway rather than requiring a connection through Bogota.
Route Details
- Departure point: Madrid Adolfo Suarez Airport (MAD)
- Arrival: Rafael Nunez International Airport, Cartagena (CTG)
- Frequency: weekly, Fridays
- Aircraft: Airbus A350, 432 seats
- Operator: World2Fly (part of Grupo Iberostar’s World2Meet)
World2Fly already operates Madrid to Cali with two weekly frequencies and was the first carrier to connect Madrid directly with the Valle del Cauca region. The Cartagena addition extends the operator’s Colombia network to include both the Pacific coast gateway and the Caribbean.
Why Cartagena Benefits
Until this route, European visitors wanting to go to Cartagena had to connect through Bogota (El Dorado) or a third country, adding two to four hours to total journey time. The direct service reduces the total travel time from central Spain to Cartagena to approximately 10 hours, making a Colombia trip more competitive with other long-haul Caribbean destinations.
Cartagena’s Rafael Nunez airport already handles seasonal and charter traffic from Europe, but World2Fly’s scheduled weekly service is a different commitment — it provides a year-round booking horizon that integrates the destination into package holiday programmes. World2Fly’s parent company, Newblue, is incorporating Cartagena into tour products distributed across the European market.
The route also responds to strong interest from the Colombian diaspora in Spain. Spain has one of the largest Colombian expatriate populations in Europe, and a direct Cartagena connection serves both sides of that market.
Cartagena in October
Visitors arriving this month find Cartagena in its shoulder season — lower rainfall than August, lower hotel prices than the December peak, and manageable heat. The UNESCO-listed walled city and Getsemani neighbourhood are less congested than in the high season, which typically runs from mid-December through February.
Our Cartagena city guide covers the walled city, beach options on Baru and the Rosario Islands, and accommodation from guesthouses in Getsemani to boutique hotels within the walls. For getting there from the airport, see our Colombia airport transfers guide.