Iberia has announced more advanced aircraft, new destinations, and growth in traffic is coming in 2018. The airline presented its new developments for this year at the annual FITUR travel trade fair in Madrid, including its first Airbus A350/900, which will join the fleet in June.
New Aircraft
Iberia will become the first airline to fly the upgraded version of the A350/900. According to Iberia, the new aircraft has enhanced aerodynamics, reinforced landing gear, and the latest cockpit technology, integrating all systems with the operating infrastructure and more advanced transfer of information from the aircraft. The A350/900s are powered by Rolls Royce Trent XWB-84 engines, which allow fuel consumption about 30 percent lower than the A340-600.
The A350/900 will also offer wider aisles, higher ceilings, and wider Business Class seats to provide more space for passengers. The new aircraft will also include Wi-Fi and more sensitive HD touch display screens for easier use of the in-flight entertainment system.
The first Iberia’s long-haul flight operated by its new A350-900 will be New York in August 2018.
For its short- and medium-haul network, Iberia will be taking delivery this year of its first two Airbus A320neo planes, whose new engines make them quieter and 15 percent more fuel-efficient than the previous generation of Airbus A320s.
New Destinations
The new year will also see Iberia launch nonstop flights from Madrid to San Francisco and to Managua. San Francisco fights will be seasonal, starting on April 25 and ending on September 28, with departures on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. Flights to Managua will operate on the same week days, and will begin on October 1.
Iberia also expects to see growth in traffic on several of its long-haul routes –to Japan, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Puerto Rico, and Brazil– as well as shorter routes –France, Italy, Portugal, etc.– for which it is adding 8 percent to overall seat supply over the 2017 total. Additionally, the low-cost carrier Iberia Express is launching new services to Mikonos and Palermo.
For more, visit www.iberia.com.
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