• Iberia Airbus A350-941 EC-NDR
    Iberia
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    IB/IBE
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Madrid Barajas Airport
    Year Founded:
    1927
    Alliance:
    oneworld
    Airline Group:
    IAG
    CEO:
    Javier Sánchez-Prieto
    Country:
    Spain

Spanish flag carrier airline Iberia is fast approaching its centenary year. Indeed, the Madrid-based oneworld member will turn 100 years old in 2027 and is among the world's oldest continually active airlines. It will boast a 96-year history on June 28th, and its story is an interesting and diverse one. So, let's take a look back at how the carrier has developed.

The early years

Iberia was founded in June 1927 and commenced operations six months later, in December that year. It had financial backing from Spanish businessman Horacio Echevarrieta Maruri and then-German flag carrier Deutsche Luft Hansa. This backing amounted to a capital investment worth 1.1 million pesetas (Spanish currency from 1868 to 2002).

In 1928, the Primo de Rivera dictatorship merged Spain's airlines into a single entity known as Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas ('Subsidized Airlines Company). Amid the Spanish Civil War, Iberia operated flights to the country's nationalist regions. Afterward, it served various domestic routes and opened its first international service to Lisbon in 1939.

By 1940, the Spanish government had granted Iberia a monopoly on the country's air travel. It then became nationalized in 1944, which it hoped would help foster business relations with the US to aid its goal of flying transatlantic. This became a reality in 1946, when Iberia operated its first service to Buenos Aires, Argentina, using the Douglas DC-4.

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

The jet age

Iberia continued to grow in the post-war era, adding more DC-3s and DC-4s to its fleet. It also operated aircraft from Lockheed and had nine examples of the L-1049 'Super Constellation' in its fleet by 1961. This was a year that also saw it enter the jet age, when it received its first Douglas DC-8. The Sud Aviation SE 210 'Caravelle' followed the year after.

Iberia had also added another Douglas jetliner, namely the DC-9, to its fleet by the end of the decade. The 1970s saw it enter the widebody market by receiving examples of the iconic Boeing 747, starting in 1970. In 1972, Iberia also dipped into Boeing's narrowbody catalog by taking the 727. A year later, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 also joined the airline.

In terms of Iberia's relationship with Airbus designs, this began in 1981, meaning that 2021 marked the 40th anniversary of the Spanish flag carrier's first A300 delivery. This was its first Airbus widebody, and it has since added models from the A330, A340, and A350 families. The jet age also saw Iberia's route network grow, particularly in Latin America.

Love aviation history? Discover more of our stories here

Iberia today

Today, Iberia is among the world's most significant airlines, particularly when it comes to transatlantic travel. However, while many carriers focus their transatlantic efforts on North America, Iberia's Madrid hub has become a key gateway for European travelers bound for Latin American destinations, owing to Spain's historical links to the region.

In terms of partnerships with other airlines, Iberia has been a member of the oneworld alliance since February 1999, when the group was still in its infancy. It has been part of IAG, which also owns Aer Lingus, British Airways, Level, and Vueling, since 2011.

Iberia Airbus A340
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Two years ago, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic forced Iberia to retire its last A340s. As such, its widebodies are now all Airbus twinjets, with ch-aviation.com listing 24 A330s and 16 A350s in the Spanish flag carrier's fleet.

Short-haul operations are also an all-Airbus affair, with six A319s, 27 A320s, 15 A320neos, 15 A321s, and six A321neos doing the honors. Going forward, it also has the A321XLR on order for longer flights.

The airline has been showing its determination to make the most out of its recovery process. Last year, it went through a series of changes, including revamping its onboard business class service. Following this, it launched its latest A350, with an enhanced cabin design. Passengers on the widebody will notice six different lighting options, new 4K monitors, and better device connectivity.

The revisions continued into 2023, with the airline revamping all meal offerings in all cabins. From economy to business, there are modern enhancements.

Altogether, the carrier is proud to represent its country in the skies. After all, Spain relies heavily on international traffic for its economy. Therefore, Iberia continues to take its duty seriously in this next chapter. Over 2,1000 new recruits will help fulfill demand in this busy period.

Have you ever flown with Iberia? If so, at what point in its soon to be 96-year history did you do so? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Source: ch-aviation.com