It is the first time the airline has offered these many flights between the two regions.
Madrid based-Iberia will make history this winter as it has plans to increase capacity on both sides of the Atlantic. More than 300 weekly flights will be scheduled in Latin America for five months, the airline said on Monday.
The move comes as Iberia’s presence in the US has maintained its momentum and is set to increase. The flag carrier of Spain will operate more than 90 weekly flights between both countries.
“An ambitious plan”
Iberia’s winter flight schedule will commence on October 28th and last until March 30th, 2024. With 17% more flights in the market this year, the airline hopes to strengthen its long-haul network. Maria Jesús López Solás, Iberia’s Commercial and Network and Alliances Development Head, said the plan will reinforce Madrid airport as the gateway to Europe and Latin America.
Stunning growth
As a result, the carrier will exceed 300 weekly departures in Latin America. The growth represents a 14% increase in flights compared to 2019. In Europe, capacity will also be boosted in Paris, Rome, and Milan. Frequencies will also grow to other notable cities such as Athens, Budapest, Dusseldorf, Stockholm, Hamburg, Oslo, Prague, and Zurich. Throughout the five months, more than two million seats will be offered between Europe and Latin America.
Mexico City is Iberia’s Latin American destination with the highest capacity, with 21 weekly flights. The airline said the statistic matches the three daily Bogotá flights planned throughout the winter season.
Peru will have a total of 13 weekly frequencies with a new increase and the consolidation of two daily flights between Lima and Madrid. The country is right behind Argentina – where Iberia will offer 14 weekly flights. In Chile, weekly frequencies will be 10 per week. Brazil’s operation will be slightly larger, according to the airline.
“Brazil will have the same connectivity level and will maintain its daily flight to Sao Paulo and one more frequency with Rio de Janeiro during the months of January and February until it reaches four weekly flights with that city,” the airline explained. “Thus, at the beginning of 2024, Brazil will have 11 weekly frequencies with Europe.”
Here are other destinations where service will be increased:
- Ecuador will have 10 weekly flights as the carrier will bump its service to Quito up to one daily flight
- Venezuela will go from three to five weekly frequencies between Madrid and Caracas
- Nine weekly flights will be scheduled to the Dominican Republic in January, while 10 will be operated in February
- Puerto Rico will have up to five weekly flights in November, and daily service will start at the beginning of 2024
In Central America, Iberia plans to operate one daily flight to Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, and Uruguay.
In the states
Coming off the momentum last year in the US, the carrier will schedule more than 90 weekly flights, representing a growth of 24% compared to 2019. Service to Boston will be increased by two weekly flights, reaching five each week, and in Miami, two daily flights will be offered.
Between 11 and 14 weekly frequencies will operate between Madrid and New York. Additionally, one daily flight to Chicago, four weekly flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, and three weekly frequencies to Los Angeles are set to occur. (https://simpleflying.com/iberia-latin-american-schedule-exceed-300-weekly-flights-2023/)
