Hi, dear flight-report members and readers!
This report covers the return leg MAD-ISL of my New Year trip to Spain in 2018. Whereas on the preceding ISL-MAD leg I got the last of TK's own A333s (TC-JOE) with Zodiac Aura Lite business and Weber 5751 economy, on this leg I got the first of TK's own A333s with Safran Aura Enhanced business and Safran Z300 economy.
Madrid Barajas International Airport, T1/2/3.
TK (as well as another Star Alliance carriers except AV, Skyteam carriers, leisure carriers and LCCs) operates from the south terminal complex (T1/2/3) of MAD, namely from T2. These are the ugliest terminals of any major European airport and can be compared only with the extremely ugly and dated T1 MEX. Though, MAD T1/2/3 has an edge over MEX T1 in terms of planespotting possibilities.
FIDs for departures from the south terminal complex. Whereas the previous TK1857 ISL-MAD flight was codeshared with AV (which operates from beautiful T4S of the north terminal complex), this flight TK1858 MAD-ISL was codeshared with UX, which operates from the south complex.
TK's check-in desks in T2.
My BP.
The airside is extremely dull in terms of design. Only design of some cafes worth an attention.
Planespotting From T1/2/3 MAD
The only positive part of the south terminal complex of MAD (which definitely overweights its ugliness) is planespotting possibilites due to the (almost) unrestricted access to the windows, which are not blocked by sunscreens.
RR-powered B752 (EC-HDS) of Privilege Style. It was phased out in October 2023 and scrapped in 2024. Now the narrowbody part of P6 fleet consists of 2 A321s.
B763F of UPS and A300F of FedEx.
AV B788 (N780AV) landing from BOG. AV is the lucky exception of Star Alliance carriers in MAD, as it operates from T4S.
EI A321 (EI-CPE), arriving from DUB. Back in 2018 EI (despite being an IAG member) was operating from the south terminal complex, but moved to T4S since.
A343 (EC-MQM) of Plus Ultra. It was the last quadjet of PU and the last ever quadjet of any Spanish airline. EC-MQM was phased out in late March 2025 and then scrapped. PU then turned into a boring A333/A332 airline. In its heyday PU also operated 2 A346s (phased out in 2021-2022). Since the demise of Spanish-registered quadjets, the only type of quadjet that MAD continues to get is EK A380 (EK operates from T4S).
Another PU A343 (EC-NBU), which was operating on behalf of Cubana de Aviacion back then. EC-NBU was phased out in August 2023 and since then joined Fly X Airlines fleet in Zimbabwe, but is currently stored.
All-white B744 (EC-MRM) of Wamos Air. It was phased out in June 2020 and is stored since.
Wamos Air A332 (EC-MNY) which was operating on behalf of Biman Bangladesh back then. It was phased out in late 2020 and scrapped in 2023.
An A300F of DHL.
A bunch of business aviation jets.
ET B788 (ET-AOS).
DL B764 (N845MH) in the "Breast Cancer Research Foundation" livery.
The tails of another two North American airlines - UA B763 and AC A333 (C-GFAJ) - the third-oldest A333 in AC fleet. The only North American airline, operating from beautiful T4S is AA (an oneworld member).
An UX B788 undergoing some engine inspection.
The Aircraft
My flight MAD-ISL was operated by 2015-built GE-powered TC-JOF - the 1st A333 in TK fleet with then-new Safran Aura Enhanced business class and Safran Z300 economy class. All the TK's own A333s has similar C28_Y261 layout. The difference is that the seat models depend on the aircraft's production year, as I explained in the previous FR.
Boarding
Boarding was from B24 gate.
There was a selection of Turkish newspapers in the jetbridge.
The Economy Seat
My seat was (back then) 7A - with the current updated row numeration of TK's own A333s now it's 9A.
The seat model is Safran Z300 - one of the best economy seat models for long-haul flying. 2 years before I already flew a 2015-built TK B77W with similar seats on ISL-HKG flight. The seat has generous padding and very good ergonomics and feels very comfortable. The seatwidth is 18.0", the row pitch (at least in the front cabin and probably in the part of the rear cabin before the fuselage tapering) is very good. The seat has fabric upholstery with "leather" adjustable headrest, Panasonic eX3 IFE with big crispy screen, USB port and remote control, coat hanger, bi-fold tray table, soft seat pocket and legrest. There's an underseat power box, but rather slim and not bothersome (in contrast of 2 power boxes in TK's own A332s with TSI Skysofa seats). In contrast with the previous ISL-MAD flight, this time the cabin was full. Even though the amount of personal space was more than enough for a 4-hours flights.
The overhead panel has no personal airvents.
The seatpocket content: safety card, inflight magazine, duty-free magazine, Istanbul stopover promotion magazine and waste bag.
The headphones, that were present on the seat.
The welcome screen and the main menu of the IFE plus a couple of iconic sightseeings of Istanbul. The screen was already dirty and I apologize for forgetting to wipe it.
A cabin view from my seat.
The Flight
As we're starting pushback and taxiing, planespotting continues.
Wamos B744 (EC-KQC), arriving to the adjacent gate. It was phased out in December 2018 and scrapped in 2020.
UX B788 (EC-MMX).
An UA B763 and a tail of AeroMexico Dreamliner (AM operates both B789 and B788 to MAD).
2017-built B738 (YR-BGJ) of TAROM from OTP, a B738 of omnipresent Ryanair.
The main building of the south terminal complex with its ATC tower, the snow-capped mountains on the backdrop and the T4S ATC tower to the right.
TP A319 (CS-TTU), A3 IAE-powered A320 (SX-DNB) and an UX B738. CS-TTU was phased out in November 2020 and a part of it was preserved in GBA airport in UK.
An AF A320 and an UX B738 in the old livery.
AT75 (EC-MIY) of Swiftair. It was converted to freighter in 2020.
And now the most interesting part of planespotting in MAD begins.
T4 and Madrid downtown on the backdrop.
An Air Nostrum CRX, taxiing along T4.
An Air Nostrum CR2. The airline completely phased out this type in October 2025.
An iconic sight that MAD, very sadly, completely lost since the pandemic. 2 IB A346s - one in the old livery (EC-JNQ) and one in the new (dull) livery (EC-IZY) - taxiing parallel each other on departure to trunk Latin American destinations (the departure time of my TK1858 flight coincided with the midday IB's departure bank to Latin America). EC-JNQ was the very A346 I flew in February 2019 on then-longest IB flight MAD-SCL. Whereas the IB A346 economy with Weber 5751 seats was very comfortable for that 13-hours flight, the experience was ruined by hostile and aggressive crews (which were sadly the norm for the pre-pandemic IB) and subpar service (the return SCL-MAD flight was even more miserable with absolutely satanic crew and abysmal service with inedible food). All the IB A346s were phased out in pandemic 2020 and only a few avoided the scrapper; EC-JNQ was scrapped in 2022 but EC-IZY was converted to freighter in 2022 and joined European Cargo fleet.
An IB A332 on departure to a secondary Latin American destination (or to an African one). On the backdrop is T4S with 3 more IB widebodies plus an El Al B738. Little did I know back then that in 2022-2023 LY will be my "home airline" for almost 1.5 years…
The ATC tower of T4S.
The south end of T4S.
AA A332 (N290AY). AA completely retired its A332s during the pandemic.
An IB A332 and an IB A320SL, parked on the remote stands of T4S.
T4S with the tails of AV B788 (N780AV), LA B789 and some IB A346s.
A Wamos Air A332 on the remote stand near T4S.
A LH A320SL in the "5 Starhansa" (meh) livery.
A view of the south end of T4S with AA A332 and T4 on the backdrop.
LA B789 from SCL and the secondary ATC tower of T4S.
AV B788 and an IB A346.
Another IB A346 near T4S.
One more IB A346 (EC-IQR) at the remote stand near T4S. Being phased out in 2020 as well as the others IB A346, EC-IQR avoided the scrapper and is currently stored.
The north end of T4S with an IB A332 and an IB A333 with Madrid downtown on the backdrop. BTW, IB A333s have the same business, premium economy and economy cabins as now-long-gone IB A346s had.
EC-JNQ taking off - maybe also for SCL, as it got to be in February 2019 with me onboard?
And now it's our turn to take off.
Snow-capped mountains north-east of Madrid.
Making deep left turn over Guadalajara and snow-capped adjacent mountaineous plateaus. The views are stunning!
Overflying Embalse de Buendia.
Mountaineous plateaus and flat snow-capped mountains near Cuenca.
Promotion of TK's business class with Safran Aura Enhanced seats (similar to the ones, installed on this aircraft).
Getting closer to the Mediterranean coast.
Parc Natural de la Serra Calderona.
Outskirts of Valencia.
Crossing the coast near Puerto de Sagunto…
… and then the clouds completely hide all the views down.
Dinner time. Kofte with vegs and rice, veg salad and chocolate mousse. The cutlery was metallic, as usual. For the drinking I chose white wine, lemonade and coffee. Very good and filling dinner!
Promotion of massage in the TK's then-flagship lounge in ISL.
The flight map and some of its features. As TK is a flag carrier of an islamic country, the map also shows the direction on Mecca and the schedule of prayers for muslims.
Some convective formations outside…
… and homogenous cloudiness again. Almost until the end.
Time to stretch the legs.
An inflight view of the front economy cabin…
… and of the rear one. I can guess that, as in the older TK A333s with Weber 5751 seats, these newer A333s also have narrower seats and reduced row pitch in the fuselage tapering zone, so I'd recommend to choose the front cabin or the front part of the rear cabin before tapering zone.
The lavatories are clean and stocked with cosmetics.
A massive TK logo near 2L/R doors.
Meanwhile we're flying over Balkans…
… which are completely overcast.
Starting our descent to ISL.
Only before the Marmara Sea the clouds disappear. The daylight, and the flight as well, are coming to an end.
Overflying Bahcesehir district of Istanbul city.
Overflying Su Urunleri Hali pier.
The sunset was damped by the haze.
Maneuvring over the Marmara Sea.
Approaching ISL. Flaps and slats are in the landing config.
Moments before landing.
ISL apron with TK's widebodies.
Touchdown and thrust reverse. ISL terminal and its apron in sight.
Parking on a remote stand near cargo aircrafts: 2 ULS A300Fs, Kalitta Air B744F and TK B77F (TC-LJL) - the first TK's B77F.
The flight is over.
The Economy Cabin After The Flight
Views of the front economy cabin upon disembarkment. It was a pleasure to fly on this A333!
Disembarkment
During the disembarkment (via stairs to the buses) the dusk turned into deep blue. A view of our portside GE CF6 engine and a view of B77F (TC-LJL) parked nearby.
The Aircraft After The Flight
Last views of TC-JOF from the stair and from the ground.
Thank you for your attention and see you in the new FRs!
