The airlines have taken a negotiating position, hoping to wring concessions and "marketing intitiatves"`etc from Aena and the regional tourism organsations. If they were to pull out of Madrid, and other of Spain's airports, it's difficult to see where they'd employ the capacity that would release.

But as an $80 insurance against the risk, the Alitalia option is`attractive. You could probably write off most of this in baggage allowance, seat assignment and general stress-relief.

I'm not sure why you'd hope easyJet cancels, bringing unhappiness to hundreds of other passengers. It seems an unreasonable price for others to pay for your satisfaction.