Iberia’s €6bn long-haul gamble: Spanish flag carrier plots major expansion by 2030
Spanish flag carrier Iberia has laid out its roadmap for the next five years, targeting major long-haul fleet expansion, new destinations, and investments in innovation and customer experience as part of its “Flight Plan 2030”.
The strategy sets an annual profitability target of between 13.5 and 15%, allowing for a €6 billion investment in the airline’s long-term transformation.
Central to the plan is a significant growth of Iberia’s widebody fleet. Alongside it is a full overhaul of short- and medium-haul operations and a drive to cement Madrid-Barajas Airport’s position as a leading European hub.
President and CEO Marco Sansavini said: “Thanks to Iberia’s profound transformation over the last decade and the efforts of all our people, we are now delivering results that allow us to look to the future with confidence and invest €6 billion in our Flight Plan 2030.
“We want to grow from the current 45 long-haul aircraft to 70 to position Barajas as a major European hub and enhance Spain’s global connectivity.”
Iberia: long-haul expansion and fleet modernisation
Iberia plans to grow its long-haul fleet from 45 to 70 aircraft, a move that will draw on the IAG group’s recent aircraft orders.
The additional capacity will come from new Airbus A350s and A321XLRs, and potentially the A330neo.
At the same time, the airline will refresh its narrow-body fleet with A320 and A321neo aircraft.
With the new aircraft, Iberia is preparing to roll out new routes and increase existing frequencies, particularly in North and Latin America.
New destinations include Toronto, Philadelphia, and Monterrey.
These are to join Recife, Fortaleza, and Orlando, which have already been confirmed.
Deploying the A321XLR
The promised expansion of its long-haul network follows the recent deployment of Iberia’s A321XLR on transatlantic routes.
In April, the carrier resumed flights to Washington DC and will do so with the A321XLR, of which it has been the global launch airline. The US capital is the second long-haul destination of the A321XL after Boston.
Iberia said the lower operating costs of the A321XLR had enabled it to increase to up to six weekly flights to Washington DC. They will become daily flights in September and October.
In the summer of 2025, the airline will operate 140 weekly flights between both countries. That is 14% more than last year, and will put a total of 1.1 million seats on the market.
Investing in the cabin
A major element of the Flight Plan 2030 focuses on enhancing the customer experience.
All long-haul aircraft are to be fitted with fully redesigned cabins that offer improved comfort, updated interiors, and better inflight connectivity.
Narrow-body aircraft will also benefit from enhanced overhead storage.
On the ground, a new lounge is in development at Terminal 4 in Madrid-Barajas Airport to serve the airline’s growing premium segment.
Iberia will also increase investment in digital services, including artificial intelligence and personalisation.
The strategic plan includes the creation of a new integrated facility in La Muñoza – the carrier’s Madrid aircraft maintenance and overhaul facility. The new site will be named Ciudad Iberia and will also house Iberia’s corporate headquarters.
To support the scale of the expansion, Iberia plans to recruit around 1,000 new employees annually throughout the decade.
“We expect to hire an average of 1,000 new employees per year throughout the duration of the 2030 Flight Plan. This will multiply the opportunities for professional improvement and development for everyone in the airline,” Sansavini added.
