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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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.