Spanish airline Iberia has announced its intention to expand its fleet of long-haul aircraft from the current 45 to 70, allowing it to boost flight frequencies and introduce new destinations, particularly to Canada and across North and South America.
According to Iberia CEO Marco Sansavini, the new aircraft will support efforts to transform Madrid’s Barajas airport ‘into a major European hub and enhance Spain’s global connectivity’. ALSO READ: Spain’s Aena gets green light for €3.2bn expansion of Barcelona-El Prat airport.
The airline is preparing to launch new services from Madrid to Toronto, Philadelphia, and Orlando, as well as Monterrey in northern Mexico and the Brazilian cities of Recife and Fortaleza.
In addition, Iberia is evaluating other destinations across the Americas where increased flight frequencies might be viable. These include San Juan (Puerto Rico), San Francisco (USA), Santo Domingo, Caracas, Guayaquil, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo.
As part of its broader fleet modernisation, the airline also aims to replace most of its older short- and medium-haul aircraft with more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient Airbus A320 and A321neo models.
These aircraft acquisitions fall under Iberia’s new multi-year strategic plan, which also includes the development of a new premium lounge at Madrid airport and expanded use of artificial intelligence to improve customer service.
The company plans to invest €6 billion in the initiative.
In a related move, International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of Iberia and British Airways, disclosed in May a major aircraft order from Boeing and Airbus, with deliveries expected between 2028 and 2033.
Iberia closed 2024 with a full-year net profit of €2.7 billion, marking a 3% rise from the previous year.
In its statement on Wednesday, the airline said it plans to hire an average of 1,000 new people per year up to 2030, to reach 250,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs and ‘contribute €19 billion annually to Spain’s GDP, 42% more than it does today in terms of wealth and job creation’.
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