eDreams ODIGEO sign strategic partnership agreement with British Airways and Iberia

 

eDreams ODIGEO, Europe's largest online travel company, the second largest in terms of flights globally and one of the largest European e-commerce businesses, today announced that they have signed a New Distribution Capability (NDC) agreement with British Airways and Iberia, part of IAG, one of the world's leading airlines groups.   

The strategic agreement involves all four of eDreams ODIGEO's leading travel agency brands (eDreams, Opodo, Travellink and GO Voyages) and IAG's airlines British Airways and Iberia. This will allow travellers, globally, to enjoy a modern air retailing experience for travel to 268 destinations. 

The distribution agreement between eDreams ODIGEO and British Airways and Iberia will give travellers access to a more diverse offering when booking flights in the future. Through the NDC tech, travellers all over the world will benefit from increased flexibility, more competitive fares, and new methods of travel personalisation. The NDC agreement will streamline options for customers based on user preferences and deliver an improved customer experience.

Pablo Caspers, Chief Air Supply Officer at eDreams ODIGEO: "As one of the world's largest online travel companies, we are committed to continuously enhance our product offering to ensure the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with one of the world's leading airline groups. As a result, our customers will now benefit from an even better booking and travel experience, together with more competitive flight options. We look forward to continuing to drive forward tech innovation for our joint customers."

British Airways and its Atlantic Joint Business partners set transatlantic dominance

The UK's British Airways, along with its IAG stablemates and American Airlines have strengthened its strategic Atlantic Joint Business partnership to exert dominance in the transatlantic market and arrange cooperative pricing. The mass group of airlines are also introducing a selection of new routes to choose from for Summer 2022.  New gateways include London to Portland, Barcelona to Los Angeles and Helsinki to Dallas.

The Atlantic Joint Business is a joint venture that started in 2010, between American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia, with Finnair joining in 2013, LEVEL in 2017 and Aer Lingus in 2021.  By bringing their network of flights together, the partnership offers customers in the North Atlantic the most competitive choice, with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and LEVEL operating in Europe and American Airlines in the USA.

Customers can mix and match flights operated by any of the six carriers to get the best deals and enjoy smoother connections through coordinated schedules.  The new routes are:

Aer Lingus

Two new North American routes have launched from its new base in Manchester:

Manchester to JFK New York, launched 1 December operating year-round

Operating 7 times a week

Fares start from £438 economy return including taxes and charges

Aircraft type A321Neo

 

Manchester to Orlando, launched 11 December operating year-round

Operating 4 flights a week – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; increasing to    daily flights from 2 May 2022

Fares start from £558 economy return including taxes and charges

Aircraft type A330-300

 

Iberia Will Fly to Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington DC in the spring

Following the recent decision by the United States government to reopen its borders to tourists from the European Union in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Spanish airline, Iberia has made changes to its forthcoming spring and summer 2022 schedule.

As in all markets where Covid-10 restrictions are being lifted, Iberia is resuming its flights and even adding destinations, such as Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington DC, scheduled for the summer season that begins in April and will be available for booking in the near future.

Dallas, an All-new Destination for Iberia

Starting in April, Iberia will operate four weekly return flights from Madrid to this north Texas city, which is the hub of American Airlines, with which Iberia has a Joint Business Agreement (JBA), facilitating one-ticket connections to a large number of US cities. British Airways and Finnair are also partners in the JBA, which covers routes between Europe and the North Atlantic.

Direct to Washington DC

Iberia’s plans to fly from Madrid to the US capital were interrupted by the outbreak of the pandemic, but now they are back on track for four weekly return flights starting in April. The city boasts not only the seats of the three branches of government –the White House, the Capitol building hosting the two houses of congress, and the Supreme Court– but also major museums like the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest.

Return to San Francisco 

Summer flights to the West Coast city will be resumed in 2022, with three return flights per week from Madrid starting in April. 

Major Presence in the United States

These destinations will bring to a total of nine the number of cities served directly by Iberia in the United States, the Spanish airline’s most important market

In the current winter season that began on 31 October, Iberia has scheduled 70 flights per week between Spain and the US, reaching the same cities it served before the pandemic began.

Specifically, the airline is operating 10 weekly return flights to both New York and Miami, five flights a week to Chicago, and three weekly flights to Boston and Los Angeles. It is also flying four times a week to San Juan in Puerto Rico, a destination included in the North Atlantic JBA with American Airlines, British Airways y Finnair.

The JBA linking Iberia, American Airlines, British Airways, and Finnair

The four airlines have joined forces to offer their customers a global network of routes linking more than 400 cities in 100 countries of Europe and North America, which will now be enriched with access to Spanish destinations by travellers from the additional US cities served by Iberia.

Customers of the four airlines will enjoy numerous advantages under the terms of the JBA, in addition to a much wider range of destinations, flying times and better connections.

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Alaska Airlines agrees codeshare deal with Iberia Airlines

Alaska Airlines launches new codeshare agreement with Iberia Airlines

Alaska Airlines has agreed on a new codeshare agreement with the Spanish carrier Iberia Airlines, a fellow member of the oneworld alliance and part of the massive IAG group of airlines.

This new agreement strengthens the existing partnership between the two airlines, giving flyers exciting and convenient travel options for Iberia passengers to easily connect to more than 40 routes throughout Alaska's network.

Iberia has nonstop service between Los Angeles and its Madrid hub, and seasonal service between San Francisco and Barcelona – enabling seamless connectivity to the Alaska network beyond both California cities. 

"We're thrilled to expand our cooperation with Iberia, one of our newest partners in oneworld," said Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at Alaska Airlines. "Alaska joined oneworld to efficiently link our network to the world, and this enhanced partnership with Iberia brings Europe one step closer."

Alaska launched its partnership with Iberia on March 31, 2021, the same day Alaska formally became a member of the oneworld global alliance. The partnership with Iberia enables our Mileage Plan members to earn miles on Iberia flights and features reciprocal elite benefits, including preferred seat selection; priority check-in, security clearance and boarding; lounge access; and extra baggage allowance, with further enhancements coming over the next several months. Iberia has been a member of oneworld since 1999.

With two daily flights Iberia really opens up Mexico for European travellers.

Spanish airline Iberia has recently amended its schedules from Madrid to Mexico to now offer up to 14 weekly flights.

With partner airline Aeromexico it offers connections to another 40 Mexican cities.

Mexico is one of the countries without entry restrictions of most Europeans that have been double jabbed and offers up a destination of such amazing variety.  

Iberia has increased its operations to Mexico from Madrid which will help open up the country for families and tourists alike. Plus with the special codeshare deal with Aeromexico, Iberia expands its network of connections in the interior of Mexico to 40 other Mexican cities, such as Monterrey, Cancun, Guadalajara, Acapulco or San Luis Potosí, among others.

The schedules of the flights Madrid-Mexico City are:

 

Route	Flight No.	Days of operation	Departure time	Arrival time
Madrid-Mexico City	IB6403	Diary	1:20 p.m.	5:55 p.m.
Madrid-Mexico City	IB6409	Diary	11:55 p.m.	04:30h the next day
Mexico City-Madrid	IB6400	Diary	12:10 p.m.	06:00h the next day
Mexico City-Madrid	IB6402	Diary	8:05 p.m.	13:55h the next day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onboard the most advanced aircraft on the market, the Airbus A350

Since June 2020, Iberia has scheduled its Airbus A-350/900 aircraft on its Madrid-Mexico City route to make its customers aware of the features and improvements offered by the quietest aircraft on the market, equipped with two Rolls-Royce Trent XWBengines.

With 348 seats -31 in Business Class and 293 in Economy -this aircraft model incorporates Premium Economy Class,an intermediate product with 24 seats that offers: 20 percent more separation between rows of seats (94 cm), 40% more recline, wider seats (48 cm), 12-inch full HD screens, higher baggage allowance or a differentiated on-board service, among other benefits.

For customers, the cabin of the Airbus A350/900 has great advantages: high-speed Wi-Fi,panoramic windows, wider aisles and higher ceilings that give a greater sense of space and an air renewal system that improves humidity levels on board by between 11 and 16 percent.  

In addition, Business Class offers larger screens of 18 inches, wider seats (58 cm), wider footrests and more space for personal belongings.

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Iberia Returns to the Maldives and Cali This Winter Season

• Two weekly flights to Male from December through February, and three weekly flights to Cali, from December throught March.

• In Spain, the Madrid-Barcelona shuttle is experiencing the fastest growth, with 68 flights operating weekly –up to 11 flights per day in each direction.

• Iberia is also expecting continued domestic demand growth, especially in business travel, between Madrid and Bilbao, La Coruña, and Vigo, and is scheduling four daily return flights to all three cities. Capacity will also be increased on flights to Asturias, San Sebastián and Santander. 

• In European flights Iberia is boosting Madrid-Paris services to as many as seven daily flights in each direction, reaching both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports). It is already operating five daily return flights to London, while increasing capacity to Lisbon, Oporto, Frankfurt, Brussels, Geneva, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Düsseldorf, Munich, Venice, Lyon, and Marseilles.

• In total, this winter Iberia will fly to 23 long-haul destinations in 17 countries, with nearly 280 flights per week.

• Iberia’s fastest-growing markets in Latin America are Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia, and it is also adding flights to Central America and Uruguay.

• In the United States, Iberia is increasing its services to New York and Miami to 10 flights per week, while continuing to fly to  Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles.

• Meanwhile, the airline has just extended its promotional fares campaign until 22 September.

 

In the winter season that begins on 31 October, Iberia is expecting the continued recovery of passenger traffic, while contributing to it with promotional fares, and adding destinations and flight frequencies.

After its summer success, Iberia’s new Maldives Islands destination will be maintained throught the winter, with two direct return flights per week from December through February.

In December-March the airline will fly three times per week to Cali,  Colombia, which was a popular destination this summer.

The Madrid-Barcelona Shuttle Takes Off

Domestic air travel in Spain is showing a strong recovery in general, and flight frequencies to all destinations are being increased.

In September Iberia raised capacity by 32% on its Madrid-Barcelona shuttle service, the Puente Aéreo (“Air Bridge”). Further increases this winter will take it to 69 flights per week, or up to 11 daily return flights.

The airline is also increasing frequencies this winter to up to five flights per week from Madrid to La Coruña, Bilbao, and Vigo, while it will fly twice daily to San Sebastián and to Santander, and make up to three daily flights to Asturias.

 

Business Travel in Europe

To attract and accommodate business travellers. Iberia is increasing connectivity to key European cities, facilitating same-day return flights.

This winter Iberia will operate up to seven flights per day from Madrid to Paris, including both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports. It is now flying five times a week to London, while increasing frequencies to Lisbon, Oporto, Frankfurt, Brussels, Geneva, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Düsseldorf, Munich, Venice, Lyon, and Marseilles, with up to three daily flights.

 

Long-haul Operations also Recovering

This winter Iberia will continue to fly to its new destination in the Maldives –following this summer’s success– and to Cali, Colombia, In total its will serve 23 cities in 17 countries in the Americas, plus the Maldives, operating some 280 long-haul flights weekly from  Madrid.

 

The Madrid Hub is a major logistics centre through which more than three million doses of anti Covid-19 vaccines have been distributed

Iberia and IAG Cargo, the company handling air freight for all IAG airlines, continue to focus their efforts in the struggle against the pandemic by helping move Covid-19 vaccines around the globe.

Shipments of vaccines began in December 2020 and, since the very beginning, the Madrid airport became a major world hub in vaccine distribution, and has moved more than three million doses.

Vaccine shipments have been taken by Iberia Group airlines from Madrid to Spain’s Canary and Balearic Islands and its North African destination Melilla, along with the Latin American nations of El Salvador, Mexico, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Peru.

The Madrid cargo terminal is equipped with IAG's “Constant Climate” facilities which are used to ensure that vaccines and other pharmaceutical goods are conserved at the proper temperature. Iberia and IAG Cargo staff are trained specifically in the handling of such materials, which are stored and moved in refrigerated facilities, including ground vehicles.

 

CNN visits Iberia MRO facilities

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Repsol and Iberia sign an agreement to advance sustainable mobility solutions

Iberia and Repsol have signed a collaboration agreement to move towards more sustainable mobility, among other objectives. The agreement between the multi-energy company and the airline is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) promoted by the United Nations through its 2030 Agenda.

The collaboration is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) promoted by the United Nations through its 2030 Agenda.

It includes joint programs and activities in three areas: the development of low-carbon aviation fuels, the production of electricity and renewable hydrogen to decarbonize Iberia’s vehicle fleet, and the ecological transition towards more sustainable facilities through new technologies based on artificial intelligence, among others.  

Repsol has for several years been immersed in a process of transformation and diversification of its businesses with the aim of leading the energy transition. It was the first company in its sector to set the goal of achieving zero net emissions by 2050.

Iberia is part of IAG, the first group to commit to achieving zero net emissions by 2050. In addition, a minimum of 10% of its flights will be using sustainable fuels by 2030.

This agreement reinforces the role of both companies as key players in the energy transition and sets a general framework for collaboration to advance towards achieving the global objectives of sustainable development.

Repsol CEO, Josu Jon Imaz, and Chairman of Iberia, Javier Sánchez-Prieto, signed an agreement that will develop ambitious joint programs and activities in three areas: the research and production of sustainable aviation fuels, capable of reducing their carbon footprint during their combustion on flights; the development of processes for the production and supply of electricity and renewable hydrogen that will decarbonize Iberia’s fleet of land vehicles; and the energy management of Iberia’s facilities through advanced systems (Energy Management System) and artificial intelligence, as well as self-consumption installations.

For Javier Sánchez-Prieto, Chairman of Iberia, “this agreement with Repsol is a strategic one, so Iberia can progress towards the commitment to sustainability that it has acquired. Our current sustainability strategy is based, above all, on achieving maximum efficiency in our operations, reducing the intensity of our customers’ emissions, and offering them an increasingly sustainable travel experience. The agreement with Repsol reinforces our future commitment to the research and development of sustainable aviation fuels, the ecological transition of our equipment at airports, and a more efficient management of our facilities.” 

Iberia Maintenance and DHL deepen their relationship

DHL Supply Chain Iberia and Iberia Maintenance announce the signing of a contract through which DHL will manage the internal logistics of spare parts and components for Iberia Maintenance at its La Muñoza hub in Madrid and also at the Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airports.

In addition to this contract, DHL provides Iberia Maintenance with global distribution of these spare parts when the need arises at any of the customer airline's destinations around the world.

DHL will handle Iberia Maintenance's internal logistics for spare parts and components and shipment of parts and materials with worldwide coverage

The contract also includes the logistics of Iberia's IT and in-flight service warehouses

Iberia Maintenance has also overhauled and repaired of the RB-211 engines used by DHL Air UK and Blue Dart B757s, subsidiaries of DHL

Strengthening the relationship between Iberia and DHL

This contract with DHL also includes the logistics of Iberia's IT and aircraft supply warehouses, where a large part of the elements necessary for the in-flight service are managed. 

The new agreement also continues the solid relationship that Iberia and DHL have maintained for years, with Iberia Maintenance providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services for DHL's fleet of engines since 2008. Specifically, Iberia Maintenance has serviced more than 113 RB-211 engines used in the Boeing B757s of DHL's subsidiaries DHL Air UK and Blue Dart at its engine workshop in Madrid.

Iberia Maintenance strengthens its commercial strategy in its new organisation

Iberia Maintenance strengthens its commercial strategy in its new organisation

Andy Best, Iberia Chief Technical Officer, has appointed Paul Horstink as Commercial and Business Development Director

The future of Iberia's maintenance business will be consolidated on two pillars -Aircraft Services and Engine Services - with sustainability, innovation and high quality training as areas of focus.

 

This year, Iberia Maintenance faces the objective of gaining greater international projection of its business in all markets and, to achieve this, it has revamped its organisation, placing renewed emphasis on its commercial approach. 

Andy Best, Chief Technical Officer, will be responsible for implementing this development strategy while maintaining the focus on Iberia Maintenance's main values: fly safe, fly on time, fly low cost and continous improvement. Best stated "I look forward with confidence that under this Leadership team, supported by all our fantastic employees, we will ensure Iberia MRO delivers on its commitments to Iberia, IAG group and wider customers ensuring we are here for them now and into the future.”

 

IAG Cargo celebrates its 10-year anniversary

IAG Cargo marks its tenth anniversary, following a decade of expansion and innovation

 

The merger between British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo offered customers a ‘one-stop’ shop – creating a truly global network through the carriers in the IAG group spanning five continents

 

With the integration of Vueling, Level and Aer Lingus the business has transported cargo on almost 1 million flights (950,000) to over 450 destinations

 

08 April 2021 – This month, IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), celebrates its tenth anniversary – marking a decade of transporting vital shipments safely and efficiently for customers across the world.

 

IAG Cargo was created in 2011 following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, bringing together two distinct brands focused on providing a quality services for their customers to unlock the full potential of their networks. Since then, IAG Cargo’s mission – to be ‘always moving’ – has led it to become one of the largest cargo operators in the world, serving key sectors of the global economy including ecommerce, tech, manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical and aerospace. 

 

In total, in the last decade it is estimated that IAG Cargo has served nearly 14,000 freight forwarders, operated 950,000 flights, transporting millions of tonnes of cargo and flown to over 450 destinations worldwide using 30 models of aircraft.  Today, the business is trusted by some of the world’s best known brands to transport their precious cargo, from ancient artefacts for The British Museum, endangered animals for BornFree, vaccine shipments for Biological E to airplane parts for Boeing.

 

Iberia becomes first airline to go live with IATA Travel Pass in Europe-Latin America routes

The leading Spanish airline and part of IAG, Iberia is working with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on the development of the digital health passport known as the IATA Travel Pass, and it will be the first airline to launch it in Europe-Latin America routes, specifically in Uruguay, on its Madrid-Montevideo flights.

The IATA Travel Pass provides a consistent, predictable, and safe framework on a global basis with the dual aims of simplifying the travel experience and encouraging people to fly, while also streamlining the process of verifying the requisite health documents.

 

Uruguay is the country chosen for launching this application and Iberia customers flying to Montevideo will be the first to try it out.

IATA Travel Pass is a smartphone application that helps passengers to store, manage, and verify their Covid-19 test results, and soon vaccination certificates.

At the airport, they will enjoy a simpler and safer travel experience when they show the IATA Travel Pass, without any physical contact, and with the certainty that are in compliance with the health requisites of their country of destination.

Quironprevención with Recoletas Red Hospitalaria and the Health area of ARQUIMEA are the laboratories taking part in the IATA Travel Pass trial being conducted by Iberia.

 

A cheesy taste of the Canary Islands.

When you first think of the Canary Islands, I'd be happy to wager that your mind won't go directly to cheese, but these seven sun-drenched islands off the northwestern coast of Morocco not only consume a lot of cheese,  they also produce a large amount too.

Indeed,  the per capita consumption of cheese in the Canary Islands is the highest in all of Spain and each island home to at least one homegrown type of high-quality cheese. Some of these cheeses have received recognition around the world, including some of which have been granted their own “denominations of origin”.

Fuerteventura – Majorero Cheese

Majorero Cheese is made on the second largest island and was the first Canarian cheese to be awarded denomination of origin status back in 1996. It was also the first goat's cheese in the whole of Spain to be recognised. Majorero gets its name from the cabra majorera, one of the native goat species on the islands.  

The orangish rind dusted with black pepper or gofio -a kind of flour and the palm leaf imprint used to mould it make it highly recognisable. It has a mild flavour when fresh, but has a far more intense and slightly spicy when left to cure longer. At the Museum of Majorero Cheese, you can find out all about it as well as other aspects of island culture. 

40 Years Since Iberia’s First Airbus was Delivered

40 Years Since Iberia’s First Airbus was Delivered

On 18 March 1981 Iberia Captain Joaquin Reixa landed an Airbus A300 in Madrid. The aircraft, christened “Doñana”, was Iberia’s first Airbus, and it began a story that has lasted 40 years.

Because of their large capacity for both passengers and freight, the Spanish airline’s first Airbus A300s were used chiefly on routes to the Canary Islands. 

They were followed by the Airbus A320s which were used for short- and medium-haul flights in the 1990s. The decade also saw the entry into service of long-haul Airbus A340/300s and of the A340/600s, which joined the Iberia fleet starting in 1996.

The arrival of the Airbus A330 in 2013 coincided with Iberia’s great transformation. New Business and Economy cabins and the uses of twin-engined craft on long-haul flights brought a great leap forward in efficiency.

The incorporation of the technologically advanced Airbus A350s and A320neos represented another major stride for Iberia. The new aircraft were quieter, cleaner, and more comfortable for passengers.

Commercial revenues of €1,306 million for IAG Cargo during 2020

Photo British Airways

                              The cargo division of the International Airlines Group,  IAG Cargo has released details of its 2020 performance today and reported positive commercial revenues of €1,306 million over the whole of last year. 

  

IAG is one of the world's largest airline groups with 533 aircraft as of 31st December 2020. It is the third-largest group in Europe and the sixth-largest in the world, based on revenue.   

Overall yields for IAG Cargo for 2020 were up 94.6 per cent on the same time last year at constant currency. Sold tonnes were down 34.9 per cent.   

Lynne Embleton, CEO at IAG Cargo, said:  "In 2020, the IAG Cargo team delivered exceptional results amid a  challenging economic and capacity environment.   

Our top priority was to maintain a broad network and product proposition for cargo customers despite the pandemic. Without a freighter fleet, we adapted our operations and quickly established a comprehensive network of scheduled cargo-only flying using the group’s passenger aircraft. We identified markets most in need of air cargo supply, where the demand could support the yields required to cover the costs of cargo-only-services.  

Iberia Maintenance selects Ramco Aviation for its technological transformation

Global Aviation software specialist Ramco Systems announced that it will implement its flagship aviation software, Ramco Aviation M&E MRO Suite for Iberia Maintenance (Iberia MRO), one of Europe’s leading MRO service providers in IAG Group.

Ramco Aviation Software will replace multiple systems to unify operations across Airframe Maintenance, Engine Shops, Component Shops & Supply Chain. In addition, Iberia Maintenance would also benefit from digital enablers such as Mobility via AnywhereApps, HUBs, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Dashboards and integration to ecosystem offerings powered by Ramco.

The technology transformation program will enable Iberia Maintenance to future-proof its business growth while offering simplified user experience driving better user adoption, increase process automation and self-service, among others. 

Iberia’s New Inflight Dining Service Features Seasonal Items and Freshly Prepared Dishes Exquisitely Presented

The Spanish airline Iberia is continuing to restore the services that ensure a great flying experience for its customers whilst ensuring maximum hygiene and safety. 

Iberia’s new catering provider DO&CO adheres to the strictest health and safety protocols in preparing meals to be served to the airline’s customers.

Freshly Made with Seasonal Ingredients 

In designing its new menu offerings, Iberia has focused on the tastiest dishes of Mediterranean cuisine, using local and seasonal products where possible. 

The new food service is also presented exquisitely, with new tableware and linen in all short, medium and long haul USA flights. This new equipment will be gradually implemented in the remaining destinations.

Short and Medium haul Flights 

In Business Class on short- and medium-haul routes, Iberia serves hot breakfasts, which may include an omelette served with salted spinach, or a Spanish-style omelette accompanied by fresh tomato concassé and roasted green peppers, or an omelette with avocado and red onion accompanied by oven-baked tomatoes. Freshly made butter croissants are also served alongside fresh seasonal fruit, a superfood bowl of craft yoghurt with seeds and berries plus coffee, tea and fruit juices. On longer flights, a plate of Spanish cheese and cold cuts is included.

Iberia converts first A330 into freighter

• In November, the airline will operate until four weekly return Madrid-Los Angeles flights

• The conversion has been made by Iberia MRO

 

The first A330 airliner that Iberia has converted into freighter has arrived in Los Angeles from Madrid. Until four weekly cargo flights between the two cities have been scheduled for this month.

In the early months of the Covid’19 pandemic, Iberia’s flight operations were almost exclusively confined to repatriation flights and flights carrying emergency medical supplies. This experience prepared Iberia to adapt to the new market situation and seize this opportunity.

Iberia’s sales chief María Jesús López Solás said “We’re expecting an increase in air freight demand in coming months and this in an opportunity we should try to seize.  Under today’s circumstances we must adapt better than ever to market demands, and this operation will help diversify our income streams while keeping our staff active.”

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), will service these flights. At the start of the pandemic IAG Cargo were quick to develop tailored solutions for its customers cargo needs, including cargo-only flying on passenger aircraft and establishing a new charter team. With a wide network, IAG Cargo offers its services on more than 500 aircraft, to more than 350 destinations.  

 

IAG cuts even more capacity for the rest of the year.....

IAG, the owner of British Airways is planning more stinging cuts to its winter schedule as  "high uncertainty of the current environment" remains.

IAG has seen revenues slump by 83% to €1.2 billion during the third quarter of this year, the same period last year, the group was raking in €7.3 billion in 2019.  Capacity shrank by 78.6%, while passenger numbers fell by 88%.  All of which has left the group reporting an operating loss of around €1.3 billion this quarter. 

Because of the falling demand, increased entry and quarantine conditions, the group has said that capacity for the rest of this year will be "no more than 30%" of the 2019 levels and that looks set to continue until we're well in to 2021.

IAG’s chief financial officer, Stephen Gunning, aid: "Recent overall bookings have not developed as previously expected due to additional measures implemented by many European governments in response to a second wave of Covid-19 infections, including an increase in local lockdowns and extension of quarantine requirements to travellers from an increasing number of countries.  At the same time, initiatives designed to replace quarantine periods and increase customer confidence to book and travel, such as pre-departure testing and air corridor arrangements, have not been adopted by governments as quickly as anticipated."

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