Iberia plans to fly all of its new Airbus A321XLRs to the US
It's only been a few months since Spanish flag carrier Iberia launched transatlantic service on the first-ever Airbus A321XLR, a new single-aisle aircraft capable of true long-haul routes.
But in the coming months, U.S. travelers can expect to see a lot more of the plane.
Last week, Iberia's parent company confirmed the Madrid-based airline expects to receive seven additional A321XLRs delivered by Airbus in 2025. And the company made notable mention of where those new planes will fly.
"All of them [are] to be deployed to the U.S.," an earnings report published by International Airlines Group said.
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Big future plans for the A321XLR
Indeed, Iberia sees the fuel-efficient narrow-body jets as a linchpin of its future service between Spain and the East Coast.
With a lower passenger count and a lower cost to operate than a wide-body jet, the all-new aircraft type has airlines all excited about the opportunities it presents. With it, carriers have a financially less risky way to launch new, less traditional routes — including off-the-beaten-path flights that a large Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 couldn't possibly support.
The aircraft can also allow carriers to keep flying routes during the lower-demand winter months.
Look no further than Iberia's service this winter to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), where the Spanish airline's first long-haul A321XLR flight landed in November.
This month, Iberia will operate 29 flights to BOS from its Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) home base, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. That's up 30% over last year.
Yet, Iberia will fly virtually the same number of seats between Spain and New England this month versus last year, per Cirium — likely, with a lot fewer empty seats.
"The latest aircraft are opening up new route strategies," IAG's recent financial report noted.
It's not just Iberia. Its sister airline, Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus, plans to switch up its strategy in 2025 with new nonstop routes to smaller U.S. cities than it has typically served, operating the jet on flights to destinations like Nashville and Indianapolis.
Similarly, American Airlines' top network planner told TPG last fall that the carrier is already plotting a slew of unique routes once it (eventually) gets its own fleet of A321XLRs — and once it uses its first handful of the jets to replace the outgoing four-cabin Airbus A321T on premium transcontinental flights.
Iberia, for its part, won't just fly the XLR to the U.S. during the winter months. The airline plans to use the jet to ramp up frequencies to the U.S., executives said — with a heavy emphasis on BOS and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., this year.
Those extra flights will surely contribute to what airlines have said is shaping up to be another banner year for European travel — particularly between the U.S. and Spain; airlines, collectively, will fly between the two countries this June, July and August with 7% more seats than last summer, per Cirium.
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Narrow-body jet, wide-body accommodations
While it may seem unusual to fly to Europe on a single-aisle jet, many carriers are outfitting the aircraft with premium accommodations befitting of a long-haul aircraft — not unlike the upscale Mint pods JetBlue has flown across the Atlantic for several years.
American's A321XLRs, for instance, will sport its all-new Flagship Business suites once the carrier takes delivery of its first narrow-body long-haul planes.
As TPG saw in November, Iberia's new jets have 14 lie-flat business-class suites arranged in a one-by-one configuration, far exceeding many of the premium accommodations currently offered on its older wide-body aircraft.
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Travelers hoping to book a seat on Iberia's new A321XLRs can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points directly to Iberia Plus at a 1:1 rate.
Additionally, those members — along with Citi and Capital One cardholders — can transfer points or miles to another airline loyalty program that uses Avios as its award currency.
Alternatively, you can book an award flight through one of Iberia's Oneworld alliance partners, including American Airlines or Alaska Airlines in the U.S.
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