record growth in the region, connection agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas and an experience center on board the city

Everything is history between Iberia and Argentina. Because in 1946, the Spanish capital airline not only landed for the first time in Buenos Aires, but also carried out the first commercial transatlantic flight between Europe and South America after World War II.

Today, with three daily flights between Madrid and Buenos Airesthe countdown is already underway to the 80th anniversary of that historic operation. And at the same time, this year begins with record growth, a connectivity agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas and the inauguration of the Iberia space in the Buenos Aires microcenter.

“Iberia is the leader of the route between Spain and Argentina, achieving in 2025 a record capacity of 725,000 seatswhich is a 18% growth Faced with the figure of 2024. During this year, Argentina will be one of the most growth markets in Latin America for the airline, ”says Juan Cierco Jiménez de Parga, corporate director of Iberia, which will turn 100 years in 2027.

Currently, the route that joins Madrid with Buenos Aires presents 21 weekly frequenciesthat is to say, three per day. The importance of this route for the region is reflected in which it supposes 13% of the total seats available between Latin America and Europe.

In dialogue with ClarionJuan Cierco points out: “Flights to Buenos Aires are mostly operated with A350, a larger and more efficient Airbus, with a fuel consumption up to 35% lower. This plane has configuration of Business cabin, premium tourist and tourist.”

Argentine passengers usually take advantage of the current programs. That’s why, Argentina is the second market with more “Stopover Hello Madrid” customers (Stopover is a one or more days stop that can be done in the connection city of a flight), behind Brazil. Argentines represent 12% of the total that uses this option: 58% of Argentines who use it, choose to stay in Madrid between three and five nights.

In turn, for 2024 50,000 new highs of Argentine clients were recorded in the Iberia Plus program: This implies a growth of 11% and more than 570,000 Argentine users in the program. And from April, obtaining elite points will also be through spent money and not miles traveled.

Iberia and Aerolineas Argentinas signed an agreement last Thursday through which customers will have the possibility of connecting their transatlantic flights with 37 destinations inside Argentina (Ezeiza or Aeroparque) and 29 in Spain.

According to Cierco, “the passengers who acquire their tickets with Iberia, who in the past had to get a separate flight from or to cities beyond Buenos Aires, will now have access to 37 destinations inside the country operated by Aerolineas Argentinas.”

And he gives an example: “An Iberia client can already buy a single ticket for Buenos Aires, Madrid and Granada, to name one of the many possibilities. And the same thing happens in Argentina: you can buy a ticket from Madrid to Buenos Aires and Mendoza.”

Among the Argentine destinations are Córdoba, Mendoza, Bariloche, Mar de Plata, Rosario, Ushuaia, Iguazú, Tucumán and El Calafate, among others.

Meanwhile, those travelers who fly to Europe will have available 29 cities in the interior of Spain, which can be reached in flights operated by Iberia from the T4 of the Madrid-Barajas airport. Destinations such as Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, Málaga, Granada, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza or Tenerife are some of the many options.

For Iberia, Argentina is one of the most important markets of long radio along with Colombia and Mexicofollowed in quantity of frequencies by Brazil, Chile and Peru, and having more capacity than New York or Miami.

What are the plans and expectations for 2025? The company’s corporate director states that “Iberia will have a new capacity record between Latin America and Europe: they will put themselves on the market near 5.5 million seats between both regions (More than 300 weekly flights), which represents a growth of 4% compared to the previous year. ”

Among the fastest growing markets this year are Peru (Lima will reach two daily flights), the Dominican Republic (with 13 weekly frequencies to Santo Domingo), and Chile (will have 12 flights per week to Santiago). As for Brazil, San Pablo will have 14 weekly frequencies (two daily) and Rio de Janeiro, up to five weekly flights.

In addition, there will be growth in Puerto Rico, since San Juan will have up to 11 frequencies a week, and Quito will have a daily flight, such as San José de Costa Rica and Montevideo in Uruguay.

While Caracas will have five flights per week; San Salvador and Guatemala will reach four; and Panama, Guayaquil and Havana will add three.

In October last year, the airline began to fly to Japan, with three frequencies a week and an occupation of 90%. Another strategic destination is Qatar, which will maintain a direct daily flight between Madrid and Doha, which adds to the additional operated by code shared with Qatar Airways and that allow connecting with all the continents.

Beyond Spain, the destinations most demanded by Argentines are Italy, France and the United Kingdom.

Iberia offers a large network of destinations to connect with Europe and the rest of the world: 140 destinations in 48 countries. There are 45 in Spain, 56 in Europe, eight in Africa, two in the Middle East and one in Asia.

“During the European winter -says Cierco -Iberia will increase its network, incorporating three long radio destinations: In October the route will premiere to Orlando (United States) with four flights to the weeka; In December he will add recife, and in January to Fortalezaboth in Brazil and initially with three weekly frequencies that will increase flights. These two destinations will be operated with A321XLR aircraft, the newest model in the market. ”

Currently, the Iberia group fleet is composed of 165 aircraft, 94 belong to Iberia, from A350, A330 and A320 families; 25 of Iberia Express of the A320 family; and another 46 of Air Nostrum. In 2025, another six A321XLR, an A350 and 7 A320neo will be incorporated into our fleet.

The company is part of the IG Air Group, which has pledged to “get 0 net emissions in 2050 and to operate 10% of sustainable aviation fuel in 2030”.

With respect to the social impact, “the route between Buenos Aires and Madrid provides 8,390 jobs between direct, indirect and induced from both countries. In addition, 272 million euros to the GDP of both economies (44% to Argentina’s GDP),” according to company data.

After three editions of Iberia space In Madrid (and a fourth that will open in May), one in Bogotá and another in Mexico City, on March 27 this center of experiences aboard in Argentina opened its doors.

On the origin of the initiative, Juan Cierco Jiménez de Parga explains: “During the pandemic, 98% of our planes were on land, logically, and we only moved the planes to repatriate citizens, look that are served on board and the collection of historical uniforms since 1927, among other things. ”

In Buenos Aires, the Iberia space will remain open to the public until April 25 in Florida 202 (corner Juan D. Perón), and the appointment is from Monday to Friday from 11 to 19, and Saturdays and Sundays, from 12 to 20 hours.

In full microcentro, visitors can taste the menus that are served in the Business, Premium and Tourist tourist; Test the A350 seats (the plane with which the Madrid-Buenos Aires route is operated) and pilot with a flight simulator. In addition, there will be an exhibition of the airline uniforms throughout its history, and you can participate in wine tastings, ham and other typical Spanish products, as well as varied events, showcooking, concerts, the presence of chef Ugo chan and many surprises.

The entrance to the Iberia space is free and free, but to participate in these experiences you have to reserve them in advance (they are also free) in www.espacio.iberia.com.