Madrid has been selected as the fifth Spanish base for low-cost carrier Norwegian from next summer.
The carrier is to start routes from the Spanish capital to Gatwick, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Hamburg and Warsaw from next June.
The daily Gatwick service is scheduled to start on June 2
Two Boeing 737-800s will be based in Madrid with the airline planning to recruit 70 pilots and 140 cabin crew locally.
Madrid joins Alicante, Malaga, Las Palmas and Tenerife as bases for Norwegian in Spain.
Chief executive Bjørn Kjos said: “We have decided to open a new base in Madrid to meet the demand for direct flights between the Spanish capital and important cities in Europe.
“We see a major passenger potential from the main airport in Madrid. At the same time, it is strategically important for Norwegian to have a base in the Spanish capital in light of our presence in the Spanish market and not least, in terms of our future plans.”