, usually shortened to '''Iberia''', is the most important
Airline of
Spain , based in
Madrid . It operates an extensive international network of services. Its main bases are
Madrid Barajas International Airport and
Barcelona International Airport .
On – 10%,
British Airways and
American Airlines Holdings – 9.68%,
BBVA – 7%,
Logista – 6.49%,
El Corte Inglés – 2.90%.
In 2005 the airline reported a net profit of 395 million
Euro s—its 10th consecutive year of profits.
Iberia and Iberia Regional (
Air Nostrum ) transported 32,364,263 passengers in 2005.
Iberia will have an all
Airbus fleet by 2008, after retiring all of its remaining
Boeing and
McDonnell Douglas aircraft.
Iberia Airlines encourages all its customers to use
E-ticket s and to print the
Boarding Pass at their home. This means that if the travellers do not carry baggage or only carry-on luggage, they can go directly to the boarding gate. In Spain identification of the traveller by means of an
Identity Document or
Passport is mandatory for all airlines on all routes, including Spanish domestic ones.
Iberia’s paperless e-tickets in January 2006 accounted for 93% of all Iberia tickets sold in the month.
In
2002 , Iberia celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding on
June 27 1927 , making it one of the oldest airlines in the world. It started operations on
14 December 1927 with a flight between Madrid and
Barcelona with King Alfonso XIII as a passenger on the inaugural flight. During those 75 years nearly 500 million people have flown with Iberia, placing the company among the five largest European airlines, and making Iberia the leader on routes connecting
Spain with the rest of
Europe , and Europe with
Latin America .
Until
1939 Iberia was a purely domestic airline when it started an international service between Madrid and
Lisbon . The airline was
Nationalised on
30 September 1944 . In
1946 , it became the first airline to fly between
Europe and
South America using a
Douglas DC-4 on the Madrid to
Buenos Aires route. In
1974 , it launched Europe's first walk-on shuttle service, linking Madrid and Barcelona. That same year it established the Serviberia telephone information service, the precursor of today's popular call centres, as well as the 'Red Jackets', uniformed ground staff with the mission of providing special service to customers and to resolve any problems that might arise.
In the late 1980s/early 1990s Iberia planned a major fleet renewal with the
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 ,
Airbus A320 and
Airbus A340 , ordered to replace the
Douglas DC-9 ,
Boeing 727 and
Douglas DC-10 respectively. Significant numbers of the
Boeing 757 were also bought.
At this time Iberia also began to build up significant interests in other Spanish airlines -
Aviaco ,
Viva Air ,
Binter Canarias and
Binter Mediterraneo and Latin American airlines -
Aerolineas Argentinas ,
Viasa and
Ladeco .
In
1991 , Iberia set up Europe's first international airline Frequent-Flyer programme, Iberia Plus, and, in
1996 , the airline launched the www.iberia.com website. It bought Aviaco in
1999 and inherited its fleet.
The year
2001 was a watershed year for Iberia, when
Privatization was completed and Iberia shares were listed on stock exchanges. Thus Spain's flag carrier, which was a public sector enterprise for most of its history, regained its earlier status as a private company. Iberia is an international transportation group, operating in about 100 airports in 40 countries, employing more than 26,000 people.
The Iberia Group encompasses the Iberia Regional/
Air Nostrum franchise. In addition to transporting passengers and freight, Iberia carries out many related activities, such as aircraft maintenance, handling in airports, IT systems, in-flight catering, and holiday packages. Iberia is a member of the oneworld airline alliance.
Iberia Group airlines fly to 97 destinations in 40 countries. Via code-sharing arrangements with other companies, it offers flights to another 60 destinations in 25 countries. With a fleet of almost 200 aircraft, it makes about 1,000 flights each day. In 2002, Iberia carried 28 million passengers and 210,000 tons of freight.
In addition, Iberia is a qualified aircraft maintenance company, servicing its own fleet and those of another 48 companies, including some leading European airlines. Iberia is the leading supplier of handling services (assistance to aircraft and passengers) at all Spanish airports, its airline clients number more than 200.
Iberia was a founding partner in the world's leading computerized air ticket reservation system, Amadeus, with a 18,28%, that was sold in 2005 . Iberia is also active as a tour operator through its Viva Tours and Tiempo Libre units, and with Cacesa it supplies express parcel shipment services.
Iberia is allied with
American Airlines and with
British Airways , and on
1 September 1999 joined the
Oneworld alliance.
British Airways owns 9% of its share capital.
In July
2004 , Iberia announced it had decided to move its Latin American hub from
Miami, Florida to
San Pedro Sula ,
Honduras . Although rumored plans that the airline was considering to set the hub at
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport were discarded with the announcement, Iberia announced that it plans to expand its
Puerto Rican schedules to connect
San Juan with Central American cities.
In 2005, Iberia introduced its new Business Plus Class, on its Airbus A340 aircraft.
February 5, 2006 was a mayor milestone for Iberia as the new Terminal 4 in
Madrid Barajas International Airport was awarded to Iberia and all the others
Oneworld alliance members . This provide much needed expansion capabilities for Iberia. Iberia alone is responsible for around 60% of
Madrid Barajas International Airport traffic . In 2005 Iberia and its regional branch
Air Nostrum transported 21,619,041 passengers to/from
Madrid Barajas International Airport alone.
In
1983 , an Iberia
Boeing 727 collided with a
Douglas DC-9 of
Aviaco as the two airliners taxied down the runway at
Barajas International Airport , Madrid, causing many deaths.
In
1985 , an Iberia Boeing 727 crashed after hitting a
Television antenna while landing in
Bilbao , killing 148 people.
see full article .
The Iberia fleet consists of the following aircraft (at April 2006):
In April 2006, the average age of Iberia fleet was 8.3 years old.
In February 2006 the
Airbus A318 s order have been reconverted to
Airbus A319 's.
Iberia also has
ATR 72 and
Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet aircraft, operated by
Regional Partner Air Nostrum . In 2008, Iberia will eliminate Boeing aircraft from the fleet.
