As summer is fast approaching and Spain is a popular destination, this is a great time to learn more about the capital city through the eyes of a corporate flight attendant. Concha Lopez Martinez is a bilingual (Spanish and English) corporate flight attendant in Madrid, based out of Adolfo Suarez Barajas Airport (MAD / LEMD) and stepped forward to share her knowledge and experiences with the community.
Getting her start in commercial aviation, Concha received her initial training from Oasis Airlines. After six years in commercial aviation, she moved to business aviation where she has accumulated 10 years of experiences as a corporate flight attendant. Throughout her career, she has flown on many aircraft, including MD-83, Airbus 310/320/330, Boing 747, Boeing 757 VIP, Global Express, Gulfstream 200/450/V, Falcon 900, BBJ and Challenger 605.
In discussing her travels, it became clear that there is a clear theme to Concha’s favorite destinations. “I enjoy traveling to anywhere there is a beach and good weather, like the Caribbean or Maldives. I love sunny places,’ she said. “Also, I love flying to any location in the United States. I went to high school in California, so it gives me a feeling of returning home.”
While discussing in-flight catering, Concha shared that “space is an issue most of the time. The sizes of the containers are very important when you order the catering. Always be prepared with the right tools to manage the food. Sometimes plans change, so is better to anticipate the unexpected and have all the extras you probably need at the aircraft. Always anticipate ordering a little bit more catering just in case the number of pax changes!”
Concha enjoys dining on Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines, as well as “typical tapas, like Spanish jabugo ham.” While visiting Madrid, she suggests you try out “Casa Lucio for world-famous cuisine and Shikku for Japanese-fusion. If you go to Shikku, I highly recommend the special sushi with truffle and the special sushi with foie – those are the best!”
To get the most out of your time in Madrid, Concha suggest visiting “Madrid de los Austrias, the old part of the city, and enjoy the local gastronomy while you are there. The best gastronomic markets, Mercado de San Miguel, are next to La Plaza Mayor. For shopping, the Serrano Street area is the ‘Golden Mile’ of Madrid. On Sunday mornings, go to the El Rastro Street Market where you can find all kinds of vintage items. Madrid is also home to many museums, such as Museo Nacional del Prado and the Thyssen, and world-class nightlife.” Concha added that “public transportation, like the Metro or city transfer buses, are fast and safe.”
Concha says it is important for corporate flight attendants to be flexible, patient, resourceful and always plan ahead in order to be successful. In addition, she suggests that anyone aspiring to start their career in private aviation should invest time “gaining as much information as possible through the Internet, specifically LinkedIn and professionals websites where you can connect with business aviation professionals.” The next time you are looking for a corporate flight attendant in Madrid, contact Concha Lopez Martinez at conchlopezm@gmail.com.
This article is part of a series of interviews we are conducting with corporate cabin crew members; individuals who are not employed by Air Culinaire Worldwide. If you would like to be considered for an interview, which is posted on our blog and all of our social media accounts, please contact socialmedia@airculinaire.com.
