Category Archives: Iberia

Iberia proposes to its unions the negotiation of an ERTE for organizational and productive reasons

Iberia made this announcement:

The airline remains at capacity levels 30-35 percent lower than 2019 due, mainly, to restrictions on tourism with the United States and Latin America.

The slowdown in the economic recovery, together with the growing uncertainty about whether force majeure ERTEs will be applied to the airline sector and under what conditions, have motivated Iberia’s decision to start negotiations with its unions on an ERTE for organizational and productive reasons.

Due to the slow recovery of both long-haul and connecting flights as well as business travel and the prohibitions, restrictions and quarantines still in force in many countries, Iberia considers it essential that the extension of the force majeure ERTE that the Government and the social partners are negotiating include the air sector to safeguard the employment of workers in the sector.

In any case, Iberia needs to continue applying adjustment measures and this was reported last Friday to its unions. The airline continues at capacity levels 30-35 lower than in 2019 due, mainly, to restrictions on tourism with the United States, Latin America, Japan and China.

This has led Iberia to propose to its unions the intention of starting to negotiate an ERTE for organizational and productive reasons, necessary to be able to continue adjusting its resources to the real capacity and protect employment.

The talks on this ERTE would begin without prejudice to the decisions that Iberia may adopt regarding the ERTEs of force majeure, once the result of the negotiation that is being carried out within the Social Dialogue is known.

Force majeure ERTEs have been a fundamental tool to safeguard employment during the worst aviation crisis, and are the ones that currently apply to the entire tourism sector in Spain and, at present, are being applied in the airline as well.

Iberia returns to the Maldives and Cali this winter season, expands domestic flights

Iberia has made this announcement:

Tropical Beach with Water-Bungalows on the Maldives

Two weekly flights to Malé from December through February, and three weekly flights to Cali, from December through 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 October 31, 2021, 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 through 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.

Top Copyright Photo: Iberia Airbus A320-214 EC-ILR (msn 1793) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 955095.

Iberia aircraft slide show:

IAG reports a first quarter operating loss of €1,068 million

AvAir gains 1.5 million aircraft parts from Iberia Maintenance in largest acquisition to date

AvAir, an industry-leading inventory solutions provider for the aviation aftermarket, has secured their largest acquisition to date with Iberia Maintenance to gain more than 1.5 million consumable parts and 30,000 tagged rotable components.

Iberia Maintenance offers Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul services to more than 50 customers worldwide including all IAG airlines, Iberia, Iberia Express, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Level and Vueling; OEMs and other customers from all five continents. Iberia Maintenance provides Engine Overhaul Services for CFM56, V2500 and RB211 engines in its facility in Madrid; Heavy Maintenance for Airbus fleet in its hangars in Madrid and Barcelona; Component Repair Services and Line Maintenance Services across multiple locations in Spain and Latin America.

AvAir offers customized solutions for customers and suppliers to buy, sell, exchange, loan, lease or consign more than 26 million in-stock aircraft parts. The company is ISO 9001, AS9120 and ASA 100 certified, and adheres to the highest quality standards in all phases: purchasing, receiving, stocking, sales and shipping.

Top Copyright Photo: Iberia Airbus A340-642 EC-JFX (msn 672) ARN (Stefan Sjogren). Image: 949205.

Iberia aircraft slide show:

Iberia to add the Maldives for a total of 112 destinations this summer

Iberia has made this announcement:

Iberia is awaiting authorization to fly twice a week to the Maldive islands in July and August.

In July the Spanish airline is also resuming flights to Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles in the US, in addition to Miami and New York.

Flight to Cali, Guayaquil, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) raises total Latin American destinations to 18 cities.

Additional summer destinations in Europe include Bergen, Budapest, Corfu, Catania, Dubrovnik, Olbia, Oslo, Split, and Zagreb, plus the “sun and sand” destinations served by Iberia Express –Heraklion, Mikonos, Santorini, Bari, Palermo, Cagliari, and Zadar. And Malta, and a new route to Cephalonia.

Flights to North Africa by Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum will include Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Tangier in Morocco, as well as Algeria staring in June.

In Spain, the Canary and Balearic Islands will be the main focus of Iberia Express, while Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum will offer direct flights from the Balearic Islands to Nice, Geneva, and Zurich.
Followers of Iberia on the social media can vote to choose other new destinations for Iberia, and may win free flights for two to Ljubljana en Slovenia; Bastia in Corsica; Rhodes, Thessaloniki, and Zante in Greece; Fez in Morocco; or the Azores islands in Portugal.

In the third quarter of 2021, Iberia, Iberia Express, and Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum will fly to a total of 112 destinations, 24 of them long-haul, and 88 short- or medium-haul.

Top Copyright Photo: Iberia Airbus A350-941 EC-NCX (msn 302) BSL (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 951973.

Iberia aircraft slide show:

Iberia operates seven long-haul flights from Madrid as the airport slowly gets back to normal

A snowstorm at Madrid slowed down airport operations. Last night Iberia began to restore hong-haul operations with this notice:

Starting at 10:00 p.m. on January 10, 2021, the first two flights were to Miami and Santo Domingo and, as conditions arise at the Madrid airport, Iberia has also scheduled flights for tonight to Buenos Aires, Mexico, Sao Paulo, Santiago de Chile and Lima. Due to COVID restrictions, Lima flight is only authorized to carry cargo, but it will bring customers from Peru to Europe.
As AENA has already announced, the recovery of the airport will be very gradual, which means that it will take time to return to normal operation. Iberia will inform affected customers of possible schedule changes or cancellations that may happen in the next few hours.
Since the snow storm began, Iberia has deployed all its available means, first to serve the affected customers and now to try to recover its operation, but Spanish airline thanks customers for their understanding because, as authorities have indicated, current and next few days weather conditions will slow down the return to normality.
Iberia has decided to be flexible with booking conditions for customers expecting to fly from January, 8th to 12th. These customers can change their flight date up to 20 March.
Despite the substantial increase in staff answering our helplines, callers may note a poorer service during this snowstorm event, for which we apologize. Whenever possible we recommend that you use http://www.iberia.com to make changes to your booking, instead of the telephone, leaving lines free for emergencies and special needs.
To make the changes, contact Iberia or the travel agency where you purchased the ticket. If you bought them directly from Iberia for a flight today, 9th January or tomorrow, you can make the changes on iberia.com (“Manage My Booking”). Since the airport closed last Friday, Iberia has already offered a ticket exchange or refund to more than 11,000 customers, only through the “Manage Your Reservation” service on iberia.com
Iberia thanks its customers for their patience and understanding, and its employees for their commitment to serve even under the most adverse circumstances.

Iberia converts first Airbus A330 into a freighter to adapt to market

Iberia has made this announcement:

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

The conversion has been made by Iberia MRO

The first Airbus 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.

Retrofit by Iberia MRO

This first Airbus A330-300 converted into freighter was already undergoing an inspection in Iberia’s Madrid maintenance hangar in La Muñoza, where all Economy, Premium Economy seats and crew rest were removed along with separation panels. Carpeting was reinstalled with lights indicating the 33 cargo positions. Cargo will be held in place with netting fastened to floor rails where the seats were anchored. This configuration yields additional carrying capacity of up to 105 m3 or 18,000 kg. of cargo.

This conversion of the cabin has been carried out by Iberia MRO, which boasts long experience in aircraft retrofit operations and altering cabin configurations. They have followed Airbus guidelines and the cabin conversion has been approved by Spanish Air Safety Agency, AESA.

In August Iberia Group is operating scheduled flights to 55 cities in Spain and Europe

Iberia Group has made this announcement:

Prague and Berlin are added to the destinations served by direct flights
Flights are timed for easy connections at Madrid Airport’s T4
The company is offering a limited number of long-haul scheduled flights, repatriation flights, and cargo flights

This August , Iberia Group is offering regular scheduled flights to a total of 55 destinations in Spain and the rest of Europe, including new direct services to Prague and Berlin.

As in July, long-haul flights are being operated to countries open to air traffic, including Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador or the United States, among others. Iberia is also operating special repatriation and cargo flights to countries still closed to schedules traffic. All flights are subject to each country’s restrictions.

Iberia’s flights are all now timed to facilitate connections at the airline’s hub in T4 of Madrid Airport.

These flights represent only 27% of Iberia’s planned pre-Covid-19 flight schedule, up by nine percentage points from July, thanks to the new destinations and added frequencies to the Canary and Balearic Islands, Barcelona, and other tourist destinations.

In addition to these flights originating in Madrid, the Iberia Group is also operating point-to-point Iberia flights such as Munich-Minorca, San Sebastian-Palma, and San Sebastian-Malaga, while Iberia Express is flying from Asturias to Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and from Vigo to Tenerife. Iberia’s franchise partner Iberia Regional Air Nostrum is flying from Nice to Malaga, as well as flights from different mainland destinations to the Canary and Balearic Islands.

Safe travel

The Iberia Group’s summer flight programme features new health and hygiene measures to ensure passenger safety and a pleasant travel experience, in keeping with the recommendations of the Spanish and European Air Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), intended to facilitate the recovery of air travel in a safe environment.

Here follows a summary of these measures, which are given in detail on the Iberia, Iberia Express and Iberia Regional Air Nostrum web sites.

Pre-flight:
•   During check in passengers must sign a Declaration of Health, attesting that they have no symptoms, have not been diagnosed with Covid-19, and have not been in contact with a known carrier.
•   On flights abroad passengers must also complete a “Health Tracking Form” and a “Health Questionnaire”.
•   Only passengers holding tickets to fly will be admitted to Spanish or other European airports.
•   Passengers are strongly advised to obtain their boarding passes before reaching the airport, downloading them to their telephones in order to avoid contacts.

At the airport:
•   All surfaces that may be touched by passengers are disinfected frequently and barriers have been placed in strategic positions at check in and customer service counters.
•   Queues for check in and other services have been redesigned to ensure distancing.
•   Passengers are strongly advised to check in their hand luggage (at no charge), in order to avoid unnecessary movements aboard the aircraft.
•   No hand luggage may be taken aboard that exceeds 56 x 40 x 25cm or 10 kg in Economy. On long-haul flights Business passengers may take two pieces of hand luggage not exceeding 14 kg.
•   For additional speed, safety, and convenience, passengers will board by rows, starting from the rear.

Other measures:
•   During flights all passengers above the age of six must wear face masks covering nose and mouth, preferably surgical ones.
•   Passengers must change their masks with the frequency indicated by the manufacturer. Bags will be provided for the storage or disposal of used masks.
•   Aircraft cabins will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected as recommended
•   Air in cabins is replaced every 2-3 minutes, and HEPA filters eliminate 99.99% of all virus and bacteria from recirculated air.

On-board services
•   On each flight passengers will hear messages from health authorities about detecting, avoiding, and reporting symptoms of Covid-19.
•   Disinfectant wipes will be issued to all passengers, and extra supplies of hand-washing soaps will be available in toilets.
•   Single-use disposable utensils will be used in food service, which has been simplified.
•   Blankets and pillows issued on long haul flights are disinfected and sealed before use.
•   Duty-free sales and the distribution of newspapers and magazines during flights have been eliminated, but passengers can access more than 7,000 on-line publications, along with other entertainment options.
•   Outfitted in personal protection gear, Iberia cabin crews have also undergone specific training in the implementation of good health practices and special protocols, enabling them to detect and isolate any passenger showing suspicious symptoms.

British Airways retires the Airbus A318, Iberia to retire the A340-600 as IAG reports first half results

International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) today (July 31, 2020) presented Group consolidated results for the six months to June 30, 2020.

The results for the six months were significantly impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19, which has had a devastating impact on the global airline and travel sectors, particularly from late February 2020 onwards.

COVID-19 situation and management actions:

 Most Group aircraft grounded in quarter 2, with small programme of passenger flights for essential travel and repatriation
 1,875 additional cargo flights operated in quarter 2 to transport critical equipment and essential supplies
 Additional operating procedures implemented to protect customers and staff including facemask use and additional cleaning
 Liquidity boosted by actions including accessing Spain’s Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) facility and UK’s Coronavirus Corporate Finance Facility (CCFF). Also, British Airways’ Revolving Credit Facility extended and additional one-year bridge aircraft financing facilities agreed and implemented in quarter 2
 Multi-year renewal signed with American Express on July 24, including €830 million payment, a significant part of which is Avios pre-purchase
 Cash operating costs for quarter 2 reduced to €205 million per week, with April and May slightly lower than previously estimated at €195 million per week, despite additional cost of operating cargo-only flights
 Current capacity planning scenario for an increase through quarter 3 and quarter 4, to -74 percent and -46 percent versus 2019 respectively, but plans highly uncertain and subject to easing lockdowns and travel restrictions
 Based on our current capacity planning scenario, IAG would reach breakeven in terms of Net cash flows from operating activities during quarter 4 2020
 Government wage support schemes accessed in main employee bases and other measures agreed to reduce employee costs due to much-reduced flying program
 Capital spending for 2020 reduced by €1.5 billion, against the original plan, with 2020 fleet capital expenditure covered by committed financing
 Deliveries of 68 new aircraft due in 2020 to 2022 deferred and certain legacy aircraft retired early, including 32 Boeing 747s and 15 Airbus A340-600s
 IAG expects it will take until at least 2023 for passenger demand to recover to 2019 levels and is restructuring its cost-base to reduce each airline’s size, with consultations being undertaken locally as required
 Active discussions remain ongoing with Globalia regarding a potential restructuring of the Air Europa acquisition, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any agreed transaction would remain subject to regulatory clearances IAG period highlights on results:

 Passenger capacity operated in quarter 2 down 95.3 per cent on 2019 and for the six months down 56.2 percent on 2019
 Second quarter operating loss €1,365 million before exceptional items (2019 operating profit: €960 million) Note: Iberia is currently operating 3 A340-600s to Latin America: EC-IZY, ECJLE and EC-JNQ.
 Operating loss before exceptional items for the half year €1,900 million (2019 operating profit: €1,095 million)
 Exceptional charge in the half year of €2,137 million on derecognition of fuel and foreign exchange hedges for 2020 and impairment of fleet
 Loss after tax before exceptional items for the half year €1,965 million, and 2020 statutory loss after tax and exceptional items: €3,806 million (2019 profit: €806 million)
 Cash of €6,016 million at June 30, 2020 down €667 million on December 31, 2019. Committed and undrawn general and aircraft facilities were €2.1 billion, bringing total liquidity to €8.1 billionProposed capital increase:

 Proposed capital increase of up to €2.75 billion, to be supported by irrevocable commitment from largest shareholder and underwritten, subject to approval at General Shareholders’ Meeting in September

For definitions refer to the Alternative performance measures section.
1 The 2019 results include a reclassification of the costs the Group incurs in relation to compensation for flight delays and cancellations as a deduction from revenue as opposed to an operating expense. There is no change in operating profit. The amount reclassified for the period to June 30, 2019 was €63 million. Further information is given in note 1.
2 The prior year comparative is December 31, 2019.

Willie Walsh, IAG Chief Executive Officer, said:

“In quarter 2 we’re reporting a record operating loss of €1,365 million before exceptional items compared to an operating profit of €960 million last year. Total operating losses including exceptional items relating to the early retirement of British Airways’ Boeing 747s and Iberia’s Airbus A340s came to €2,177 million.

“We operated 1,875 cargo-only flights using passenger aircraft in quarter 2 which was an important cash contributor to the Group.

“All IAG airlines made substantial losses. As a result of government travel restrictions, quarter 2 passenger traffic fell by 98.4 per cent on a capacity reduction in the quarter of 95.3 per cent. We have seen evidence that demand recovers when government restrictions are lifted. Our airlines have put in place measures to provide additional reassurance to their customers and employees on board and at the airport.

“We continue to expect that it will take until at least 2023 for passenger demand to recover to 2019 levels. Each airline has taken actions to adjust their business and reduce their cost base to reflect forecast demand in their markets not just to get through this crisis but to ensure they remain competitive in a structurally changed industry.

“IAG continues to take action to strengthen its balance sheet and liquidity position including more than halving its operating cash costs and significantly reducing its capital spending. At the end of June liquidity stood at €8.1 billion. Based on our current capacity planning scenario, we would reach breakeven in terms of Net cash flows from operating activities during quarter 4 2020.

“Subject to shareholder approval at our AGM on September 8, IAG will undertake a capital increase of up to €2.75 billion which will enhance the Group’s resilience, balance sheet and liquidity position. We’re delighted that our largest shareholder, Qatar Airways, has already committed to support the proposed capital raising. This will best position IAG to continue executing its strategic objectives and capitalise on its existing market leading position and future growth and consolidation opportunities.”

In other news, British Airways has decided to drop the London (City) – New York Airbus A318 business route. The 32-seat A318s will be retired immediately. The unique route was last revenue flight was operated on March 18, 2020 (BA2 JFK-LCY with G-EUNA).

Video:

Top Copyright Photo: Iberia Airbus A340-642 EC-JPU (msn 744) KBP (Robbie Shaw). Image: 950772.

Iberia aircraft slide show:

Iberia Group unveils summer flight program with stringent new health and hygiene measures

Iberia Group has made this announcement:

For safe travel, disinfectant spraying of cabins, checking hand luggage without charge, boarding by rows.
Iberia and Iberia Express were early adopters of the recommendations made by the European Air Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC).
This summer, they will offer regular flights over 50 destinations in Spain and the rest of Europe

Centring on Spain and the rest of Europe, the Iberia Group’s summer flight programme to over 50 Spanish and European destinations, features new health and hygiene measures to ensure passenger safety and a pleasant travel experience, in keeping with the recommendations of the European Air Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), intended to facilitate the recovery of air travel in a safe environment.

Here follows a summary of these measures, which are given in detail on the Iberia web site: https://www.iberia.com/es/es/covid-19/medidas-adoptadas/ and the Iberia Express site https://i2news.iberiaexpress.com/medidas-covid/

Pre-flight:
• During check in passengers must sign a Declaration of Health, attesting that they have no symptoms, have not been diagnosed with Covid-19, and have not been in contact with a known carrier.
• On flights abroad passengers must also complete a “Health Tracking Form” and a “Health Questionnaire”.
• Only passengers holding tickets to fly will be admitted to Spanish or other European airports.
• Passengers are strongly advised to obtain their boarding passes before reaching the airport, downloading them to their telephones in order to avoid contacts.

At the airport:
• All surfaces that may be touched by passengers are disinfected frequently and barriers have been placed in strategic positions at check in and customer service counters.
• Queues for check in and other services have been redesigned to ensure distancing.
• Passengers are strongly advised to check in their hand luggage (at no charge), in order to avoid unnecessary movements aboard the aircraft.
• No hand luggage may be taken aboard that exceeds 56 x 40 x 25cm or 10 kg in Economy. On long-haul flights Business passengers may take two pieces of hand luggage not exceeding 14 kg.
• For additional speed, safety, and convenience, passengers will board by rows, starting from the rear.

Other measures:
• During flights all passengers above the age of six must wear face masks covering nose and mouth, preferably surgical ones.
• Passengers must change their masks with the frequency indicated by the manufacturer. Bags will be provided for the storage or disposal of used masks.
• Aircraft cabins will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before each flight..
• Air in cabins is replaced every 2-3 minutes, and HEPA filters eliminate 99.99% of all virus and bacteria from recirculated air.

On-board services:
• On each flight passengers will hear messages from health authorities about detecting, avoiding, and reporting symptoms of Covid-19.
• Disinfectant wipes will be issued to all passengers, and extra supplies of hand-washing soaps will be available in toilets.
• Single-use disposable utensils will be used in food service, which has been simplified..
• Blankets and pillows issued on long haul flights are disinfected and sealed before use.
• Duty-free sales and the distribution of newspapers and magazines during flights have been eliminated, but passengers can access more than 7,000 on-line publications, along with other entertainment options.
• Outfitted in personal protection gear, Iberia cabin crews have also undergone specific training in the implementation of good health practices and special protocols, enabling them to detect and isolate any passenger showing suspicious symptoms.