Iberia Boosts American Routes

Iberia, the Spanish flag carrier and a subsidiary of the International Airlines Group (IAG), is pursuing an ambitious expansion in the transatlantic market with its €6 billion 2030 Flight Plan. Operating a fleet of 92 jets and serving 130 global destinations, Iberia focuses on business and premium leisure travel. The airline aims to grow its long-haul fleet from 45 to 70 aircraft, adding 15 new long-haul planes, while also upgrading its short- and medium-haul fleet. This expansion targets new routes, including Philadelphia (PHL), Toronto (YYZ), and Monterrey (MTY), with services to Monterrey using Airbus A330s and potential A321XLR or A330 operations for Philadelphia and Toronto. Iberia also plans to increase frequencies to high-demand destinations like San Francisco (SFO), Santiago (SCL), and San Juan (SJU), alongside recently announced routes to Orlando (MCO), Fortaleza (FOR), and Recife (REC).

The 2030 Flight Plan aims for sustained annual profitability of 13.5%–15% and seeks to position Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) as a leading European hub. Beyond fleet growth, Iberia is enhancing customer experience through fully renovated long-haul cabins, a new premium lounge at Madrid's Terminal 4, and increased digitalization. The airline also plans to build a modern corporate headquarters and hire 1,000 employees annually, supporting over 250,000 jobs and boosting Spain's economy by €19 billion, a 42% increase in its economic footprint. These efforts aim to strengthen Iberia's competitiveness in the lucrative transatlantic market while ensuring long-term growth and profitability.