Taking advantage of the opening of countries and the easing or end of health restrictions in the world, Iberia claims to reach 80% of its capacity between Spain and Latin America and the Caribbean compared to 2019. Since March 26 it has been operating on 18 regional capitals and for the peak summer season 220 weekly flights, specifically in the months of July and August.
Due to travel demand, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico are the main markets. The routes to Buenos Aires (EZE) and Bogotá will have 14 weekly flights or two daily flights throughout the year.
The route Madrid – Buenos Aires (EZE) is the most important in Iberia’s intercontinental network, sometimes reaching more than three daily frequencies with different aircraft. Before the pandemic crisis, the company used aircraft ranging from the Airbus A330-200 to the A350-900, including the retired A340-600. His bid does not take into account the operation of Level, IAG’s ultra-low-cost, low-rate (ULCC) division, which also targets the Argentine capital. The two daily flights take place in the months of July and August.
In Colombia, the Madrid – Bogotá section continues to benefit from Colombia’s opening-up policy and the country’s tourism promotion. The Spanish airline states that market conditions in this country allow it to exceed the 2019 capacity with four additional flights. All flights are operated with A350-900 equipment. In addition to Bogotá, there is the connection to Cali with A330-200 with three weekly frequencies.
In Mexico City, the Spanish airline offers 19 weekly flights. It’s a reasonable deal that’s close to 2019’s available capacity when offering up to three daily flights.
In Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, Iberia maintains its daily flights. In the Chilean case, the supply continues to be reduced due to the border restrictions that the country has that limit reactivation. By February 2020, the Madrid – Santiago route will reach 10 weekly flights with A350-900 aircraft in high season. Currently, operations are carried out with A330-200 and A350-900 equipment, reducing the number of seats by frequency and aircraft type. In Ecuador there are daily trips into the country, but reduced in relation to the destination. By Summer 2022 (Northern Hemisphere) there will be four weekly flights to Quito and three to Guayaquil.
To the rest of the region’s destinations, Iberia maintains a growing weekly flight schedule. In Uruguay, the Madrid-Montevideo route can have between four and five flights per week. In Central America, the six flights to San José de Costa Rica, four connections in the Madrid-Guatemala City-San Salvador triangle and the five weekly flights to Panama City will be maintained. In the Dominican Republic, the service is planned with nine flights per week to Santo Domingo in July and August, while in Cuba the route to Havana will be offered four times a week.
To strengthen the connections between Iberoamerica and Europe, Iberia announces a 100% capacity restoration in 2019 on the intra-European network. The company explains that the ideal conditions are not yet in place, but it is betting on stimulating demand to ensure operations as much as possible. In this sense, there will be 53 routes in Europe and 45 within Spain, with the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands being the main domestic markets, with increases of more than 30% compared to 2019.
Leveraging the position in the Mediterranean and holiday destinations, Iberia and Iberia Express will expand the offer to Portugal (Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal and Ponta Delgada), Italy with 11 destinations, three destinations in Croatia and four cities in Greece. Routes to Norway and Iceland are also resuming, focusing on passengers traveling for adventure tourism reasons, which the company says are performing well.
For the 2022 summer season in the northern hemisphere, Iberia will have a larger fleet available both for the aircraft returned to service and for the resumption of deliveries. According to the company’s calendar, six A320neos and three more A350-900s will be available this year.
Cover Photography – Simon Blaise