Iberia (airline) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Iberia

Founded	28 June 1927; 98 years ago (1927-06-28)
Commenced operations	14 December 1927; 97 years ago (1927-12-14)
AOC #	ES.AOC.001
Hubs	Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Iberia Plus (Part of Avios Loyalty program)
Alliance	Oneworld
Subsidiaries	Iberia Regional (franchise) Iberia Express
Fleet size	89
Destinations	130
Parent company	International Airlines Group
Headquarters	Ciudad Lineal, Madrid, Spain
Key people	Fernando Candela (President and CEO)
Revenue	€4.6 billion (2016)
Net income	€271 million (2016)

Iberia is Spain's main airline. It was started in 1927 and is based in Madrid. Iberia flies to many places around the world from its main airport, Madrid–Barajas Airport.

Iberia is part of a bigger group called International Airlines Group (IAG). This group also includes Iberia Regional (run by Air Nostrum) and Iberia Express. Besides flying passengers and cargo, Iberia also takes care of airplane maintenance, airport services, and even the food served on flights. Together, the Iberia Group flies to over 109 cities in 39 countries. They also reach 90 more places by working with other airlines.

In 2010, Iberia and British Airways decided to merge. This created one of the world's largest airline groups, IAG, in 2011. Both airlines still fly under their own names.

History

Iberia, whose full name is Iberia, Compañía Aérea de Transportes, began on June 28, 1927. It was started by a businessman named Horacio Echevarrieta and a German airline, Deutsche Luft Hansa. The first flights started on December 14, 1927. The Spanish government hired Iberia to deliver mail between Madrid and Barcelona.

King Alfonso XIII of Spain gets off the Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland plane used for Iberia's first flight from Madrid to Barcelona in 1927.

King Alfonso XIII looks at one of Iberia's Junkers G 24 planes.

The crew of Iberia's first flight to Buenos Aires in 1946 with the Douglas DC-4 plane.

An Iberia Douglas DC-8-52 in Stockholm in 1969.

An Iberia Sud Aviation Caravelle at London – Gatwick in 1973.

An Iberia Boeing 727–200 getting ready to land in London – Heathrow in 1978.

An Iberia Boeing 747–300 about to land in Miami in 2005.

An Iberia Boeing 747-412 at Luxembourg Airport, June 2005.

Early Years

During the Spanish Civil War in 1937, Iberia was restarted to help with air transport in parts of Spain. The airline used Junkers Ju 52 planes. After the war, Iberia started its first regular international flight to Lisbon in 1939.

In 1940, the Spanish government gave Iberia the main right to fly within Spain. This helped the company grow into an important international airline. In 1944, the government took full control of Iberia. The airline then started buying planes from the United States, like the DC-3 and DC-4.

In 1946, Iberia became the first airline to fly between Europe and South America after World War II. It used a Douglas DC-4 for flights between Madrid and Buenos Aires. This was the start of many flights connecting Latin America and Europe through Spain, reaching cities like San Juan, Caracas, Mexico City, and Havana.

In 1954, Iberia started flights to the United States. Its first Super Constellation plane, named Santa María, flew from Madrid to New York. This happened on August 3, 1954, the same day Christopher Columbus started his first voyage.

In 1959, another Spanish airline called Aviaco became part of Iberia.

Jet Age and Expansion

In the 1960s, Iberia started using jet planes like the DC-8-50, Sud Aviation Caravelle, and Douglas DC-9. By 1969, Iberia had 11 DC-8s for long-distance flights. In the early 1970s, even bigger planes like the Boeing 747 and Douglas DC-10 joined the fleet. This helped Iberia fly to almost all capital cities in Latin America.

Iberia also bought many Boeing 727-200 planes in 1971. These planes were used for shorter and medium-range flights until 2001.

In 1987, Iberia, along with other major airlines, created Amadeus. This company helps travel agencies sell airline tickets using a single computer system.

In the late 1980s, Iberia planned to update its fleet with newer planes like the McDonnell Douglas MD-87 and Airbus A320. In 1990, it bought 16 Boeing 757s.

Recent Developments

In the 1990s, Iberia tried to become a major airline in Latin America by buying shares in other airlines there. For example, it bought a large part of Aerolíneas Argentinas in 1990. However, these investments often faced challenges and did not always work out as planned.

In 1996, Iberia launched its own website, making it easier for people to book flights. In 1998, the company placed a very large order for 76 planes from Airbus. The next year, it took over Aviaco, adding its planes to Iberia's fleet.

By the end of the 1990s, Iberia owned parts of several airlines in Spain and Latin America.

In 2001, Iberia became a private company, and its shares were sold on the stock market. By 2002, Iberia had flown nearly 500 million people in its 75-year history.

In 2006, Iberia moved its operations to Terminal 4 at Madrid - Barajas Airport. This new terminal gave Iberia much more space to grow. Iberia handles about 60% of all flights at this airport.

In 2006, Iberia also started a low-cost airline called Clickair. Clickair later merged with Vueling in 2009.

On November 12, 2009, Iberia and British Airways announced plans to merge. This merger created the International Airlines Group (IAG) in January 2011. Even though they merged, both airlines still operate under their own names.

In 2012, Iberia started another low-cost airline called Iberia Express. This airline flies shorter and medium-length routes from Madrid, helping connect passengers to Iberia's long-haul flights.

In 2023, Iberia announced it would start flying to Tokyo's Narita International Airport again in October 2024. These flights had stopped in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Corporate Affairs

Iberia is a large company with many employees and passengers. It has grown and changed over the years, adapting to new challenges in the airline industry.

Head Office

Iberia's head office in Madrid.

Iberia's main office is in the MV49 Business Park in Madrid, Spain. In 2013, the company moved its head office to this new location to save money.

Ownership

An older Iberia logo, used from 1977 to 2013.

The announcement of Iberia's shares being sold on the Madrid Stock Exchange in 2001.

On April 3, 2001, Iberia became a private company, and its shares were listed on the Madrid stock exchange.

In 2008, British Airways and Iberia announced their plans to merge. This agreement was confirmed in 2010. The merger created the International Airlines Group (IAG) in 2011. IAG became one of the largest airline groups in Europe.

Because of Brexit, Iberia has had to show that it is still a Spanish airline. This is important for it to continue flying within the European Union.

Subsidiaries and Alliances

Iberia owns a small part of the low-cost airline Vueling. Its parent company, IAG, owns most of Vueling. Iberia also has a small share in Royal Air Maroc.

Iberia works closely with airlines like American Airlines, Qantas, Avianca, and British Airways. On September 1, 1999, Iberia joined the Oneworld alliance, which is a group of airlines that work together to offer more destinations and benefits to passengers.

Iberia used to own other airlines like Aviaco and Binter Canarias. Aviaco operated many domestic flights in Spain until 1999.

Iberia also helps other airlines by providing services like aircraft maintenance and ground handling at airports. It services its own planes and those of many other companies.

Destinations

Iberia flies to many places around the world. It also works with other airlines through "joint businesses" and "codeshare agreements."

Joint Businesses

Iberia works with Qatar Airways and British Airways on flights between Doha and Madrid, and Doha and London.

Iberia also has a joint business for transatlantic flights with American Airlines, British Airways, and Finnair. This means they coordinate their flights across the Atlantic Ocean.

Codeshare Agreements

Iberia has agreements with many airlines. This means you can book a flight with Iberia, but actually fly on a plane operated by one of these partner airlines.

• airBaltic
• American Airlines
• Avianca
• Binter Canarias
• British Airways
• Boliviana de Aviación
• Bulgaria Air
• Cathay Pacific
• Copa Airlines
• Czech Airlines
• El Al
• Evelop Airlines
• Finnair
• Japan Airlines
• LATAM Brasil
• LATAM Chile
• LATAM Ecuador
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• Viva Aerobus
• Vueling

Fleet

Current Fleet

An Iberia Airbus A320neo.

An Iberia Airbus A330-200.

An Iberia Airbus A350-900.

As of January 2024, Iberia uses only Airbus planes. This list does not include planes used by its smaller airlines, Iberia Regional and Iberia Express.

Fleet Development

In 2015, Iberia ordered more Airbus A350 and Airbus A330 planes. The first A350 was delivered in 2018. In 2017, Iberia ordered 17 A320neo and 3 Airbus A321neo planes. The first A320neo arrived in 2018. At the 2019 Paris Air Show, Iberia agreed to buy 8 Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

Former Fleet

A former Iberia Airbus A300.

A former Iberia McDonnell Douglas DC-9.

Over the years, Iberia has used many different types of aircraft. Here are some of them:

Aircraft Cabins

Iberia Business Plus class inside an Airbus A330-300.

Iberia Economy class inside an Airbus A319.

All Iberia planes have two main sections: Business and Economy. Iberia has different types of Business Class depending on how long the flight is. Since 2016, most long-haul planes have personal entertainment screens for passengers.

• Business Class: This is for flights within Spain and Europe. The seats are similar to Economy, but the middle seat is left empty for more space. Business Class tickets also include faster check-in, security, boarding, and access to airport lounges.
• Business Plus: This is for long flights to places like the Americas and Southern Africa. These seats can lie flat, and passengers get extra comforts and services.
• Economy: For flights within Spain and Europe, you can buy snacks and drinks on board. For longer international flights, meals are included, but alcohol is not.

Accidents and Incidents

Since 1939, some aircraft operated by Iberia have been involved in accidents or incidents. These events are carefully investigated to improve aviation safety.

• On April 19, 1928, a Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland I plane had a hard landing near Ventas de Muniesa, Spain, causing damage and injuries.
• In 1939, two Junkers Ju 52 planes were lost. One crashed due to bad weather, and another was mistakenly shot down near Gibraltar.
• On December 23, 1948, a Douglas DC-3 crashed in foggy and rainy conditions near Bot, Spain.
• On October 28, 1957, a Douglas DC-3 crashed near Getafe due to an engine fire.
• On April 29, 1959, a Douglas DC-3 crashed onto Sierra de Valdemeca, Spain, after being diverted by bad weather.
• On March 31, 1965, a Convair 440-62 crashed into the sea near Tangier after losing control at a low height.
• On May 5, 1965, Iberia Flight 401, a Lockheed Constellation, crashed at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife during a second landing attempt in fog.
• On November 4, 1967, Iberia Flight 062, a Sud Aviation Caravelle, crashed in Blackdown, West Sussex, United Kingdom.
• On January 7, 1972, Iberia Flight 602 crashed into Sa Talia hill near Ibiza Airport.
• On March 5, 1973, Iberia Flight 504, a Douglas DC-9, was involved in a mid-air collision over Nantes, France. The Iberia plane crashed.
• On December 17, 1973, Iberia Flight 933, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, hit equipment on the runway upon landing at Boston Logan. No one was seriously hurt, but the plane was badly damaged.
• On December 7, 1983, Iberia Flight 350, a Boeing 727, crashed while taking off in dense fog at Madrid Airport after colliding with another plane that had entered the runway by mistake.
• On February 19, 1985, Iberia Flight 610, a Boeing 727-200, crashed after hitting a television antenna on Monte Oiz while landing in Bilbao.
• On July 26, 1996, Iberia Flight 6621, a McDonnell-Douglas DC-10-30, was hijacked on a flight from Madrid to Havana. The plane was later landed safely.
• In 2001, Iberia Flight 1456 from Barcelona to Bilbao crashed on landing. No one was hurt, but the plane was too damaged to be used again.
• On November 9, 2007, Iberia Flight 6463, an Airbus A340-600, was badly damaged after sliding off the runway at Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador. No injuries were reported.

See also

In Spanish: Iberia (aerolínea) para niños

• List of airlines of Spain
• List of companies of Spain
• Transport in Spain