Iberia, legally incorporated as Iberia, Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A. is the national flag carrier of Spain, operating primarily from its main base at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD). Iberia flies to international destinations worldwide and uses Air Nostrum as its domestic carrier called Iberia Express. In 2010, to combat the growth and compete with low-cost airlines British Airways and Iberia merged to form the International Airlines Group (IAG).
While still operating under the brand Iberia, the oneworld alliance member has a fleet of 73 aircraft with an average age of 9.3-years according to the aviation website Planespotters.net. Currently, due to the massive downturn in air travel brought on by the COVID-19 global pandemic, nearly half of Iberia’s fleet remains parked.
The coronavirus crisis onset also forced Iberia to bring forward the retirement of its Airbus A340 aircraft after 24-years of connecting the world to Madrid. Iberia is not alone doing this, with nearly all major airlines now looking to replace four-engine planes with newer, more fuel-efficient twin-engine jets.
Airbus A350-900
In Iberia’s fleet, the flagship plane has to be the Airbus A350-900 of which Iberia has nine aircraft. The Airbus A350 was designed with passenger comfort in mind and provides airlines with a state-of-the-art-aircraft capable of considerable fuel savings. The plane offers large overhead bins, panoramic windows, and comes with an air-conditioning system that enhances onboard comfort. The Airbus A350 was first put on the Madrid to New York route and now operates on routes between North and South America to Europe.
Seating on Iberia’s A350s comprises three classes of service, business, premium economy, and economy. Business class offers 31 flatbed seats, while the premium economy has 24 recliner seats. The rest of the aircraft’s seating comprises 293 standard seats with 18-inch width and a 31-inch pitch.
Airbus A330-200 and A330-300
Iberia has eight Airbus A330-300 aircraft with an average age of 7.2 years. Iberia uses these aircraft for routes to Latin and South America and has given them names like Panama, Costa Rica, and El Salvador to reflect this. Iberia’s A330-300s have 36 flatbed seats in premium business and 242 standard seats in economy.
Iberia has 12 A330-200s with an average age of 4.1-years. The Airbus A330-200 is one of the most modern aircraft in the skies. Iberia’s A330-200s feature 19 flatbed seats in business class and 269 seats in standard economy. Iberia operates its A330-200 to long-haul destinations like Montevideo and Buenos Aires in South America.
Airbus A320 family of jets
Iberia operates a fleet of 44 Airbus A320 jets comprising 11 A319-100s, 14 A320-200s, 8 A320neos, and 11 A321-200s. The Airbus A320 family is the most successful and versatile jetliner family capable of seating from 100 to 240 passengers in the widest single-aisle cabin.
From what we can see, Iberia only has one order for another Airbus Airbus A350-900 with the European planemaker. With half its fleet still parked because of COVID-19 new aircraft orders are unlikely anytime soon.
Have you flown with Iberia? If so, please tell us what you think about the carrier in the comments.