Iberia News
Iberia welcomes first Airbus A330-200 to fleet
Iberia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-200, a more modern aircraft and more fuel-efficient than the planes it is replacing. It is the first of 13 that will join the fleet over the next three years. Airbus A330-200s are powered by two engines and their fuel efficiency makes them both cheaper to operate and more friendly to the environment.
Iberia to return to Johannesburg from 2016
Iberia is to resume flights to Johannesburg, starting next August. With this route, the airline has resumed all flights it left to restructure its business in 2013. “When we presented our transformation plan, we said that we intended to resume all flights we needed to stop at that time,” recalled Luis Gallego, Iberia chairman.
International Airlines Group confirms 31 Airbus aircraft orders
International Airlines Group has signed a firm order for 31 Airbus aircraft, which includes 11 wide-body aircraft - eight A350-900s, three A330-200s - and 20 A320neos. The A350s and A330s are slated for Iberia’s fleet modernisation and to open new long-haul routes, and the A320neos will be allocated to the group’s airlines for fleet replacement.
Iberia considers long-haul expansion as profits return
Iberia is making plans to open new routes to Asia, Africa and the Americas in the next two years. The new destinations will be announced before the end of the year, following negotiations and profitability studies This expansion is made possible by the successful implementation of Iberia’s Plan de Futuro and consequential improvements in costs and earnings performance, which is meeting the company’s objectives, as the latest report by parent IAG attests.
Iberia to hire pilots after decade long hiatus
Iberia will begin hiring to fill 120 pilot positions in the coming weeks, after 11 years without accepting applications. The new pilots will join Iberia over the next two years, starting this summer. Agreements between the company and the pilots union SEPLA signed in February last year brought improvements in cockpit costs and productivity, while changing entry-level conditions for new pilots, aligning them with those of other airlines.
Avis Budget Group strikes deal with Iberia
Iberia has announced a new partnership agreement with Avis Budget Group, which has become the exclusive car rental partner of the airline’s loyalty programme, Iberia Plus. The partnership launch campaign, ‘We Travel Together’, highlights the opportunity for Iberia Plus members to earn Avios for every rental booked.
Iberia Plus signs exclusive deal with Avis Budget Group
Iberia has announced a new partnership agreement with Avis Budget Group, which has become the exclusive car rental partner of the airline’s loyalty programme, Iberia Plus. The partnership launch campaign, We Travel Together, highlights the opportunity for Iberia Plus members to earn Avios for every rental booked.
Iberia Express to launch Spanish summer holiday flights
The Iberia Group has revealed it will launch non-stop flights from London to Majorca and to Gran Canaria and in the Canary Islands through its subsidiary Iberia Express. At the start of the summer season the Spanish carrier will operate one daily flight to Palma, Majorca from Palma de Mallorca.
BA and Iberia launch 72 hour hold option
BA and Iberia have launched a new service allowing customers to hold flight reservations for up to three days before paying for them to 72 hours for as little as £5 through ba.com. Drew Crawley, British Airways’ chief commercial officer, said: “There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a great flight price but not being able to book it straight away, either because you may need to get the time off work or check it’s ok with family or friends – then coming back and finding there are no seats left or the price has changed.”
Iberia to go daily on flights to Panama
From Monday June 2nd, Iberia will increase the frequency of its flights from Madrid to Panama to six weekly flights, and from Sunday July 6th, there will be daily flights. Iberia’s seat capacity will increase to 2,000 seats a week, a 40 per cent increase, as the destination continues to grow in stature on the international tourism scene.
Iberia pioneers the use of iPads by pilots in Spain
Iberia is to be the first Spanish airline to equip cockpits with the “Electronic Flight Bag”, iPads to replace the checklists, manuals, and other paper documents used in flight preparations and operations, and even to perform the calculations needed.
Iberia agrees deal with SEPLA over pilots pay
International Airlines Group has revealed Iberia has reached agreement in principle with its pilots’ union, SEPLA, to introduce permanent structural change and improve the airline’s viability. It also heralds a new positive working relationship between Iberia and SEPLA after years of conflict, IAG said in a statement.