Iberia makes Orlando the 10th city on its US route map

Iberia will offer Floridians a new option to Europe this fall when the Spanish airline lands in the home of the mouse.

The Oneworld alliance carrier will connect Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) beginning Oct. 26, Iberia said Tuesday. It will fly the route four times a week with an Airbus A330-200.

Iberia cited the Central Florida city as "one of the top tourist destinations in the United States" as part of its rationale for the new route. Disney World and the large Orange County Convention Center are both in Orlando, and Cape Canaveral is just a short drive away.

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The airline will be the third International Airlines Group brand to serve Orlando. Aer Lingus flies there from Manchester Airport (MAN) in England and Dublin Airport (DUB), while British Airways flies to MCO from London Gatwick Airport (LGW), according to schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Orlando is Iberia's first new U.S. destination since it added Dallas via Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in 2022, Cirium shows.

Iberia's flights to the U.S. operate as part of a joint venture partnership with American Airlines, British Airways and Finnair.

The new route comes amid fears that President Donald Trump's foreign policy positions could dampen inbound travel demand among Europeans. Denmark, Germany, Finland and the U.K. have recently revised guidelines for their citizens visiting the U.S., and the decision by U.S. officials to deny entry to a French visitor earlier in March grabbed headlines.

Lufthansa executives recently said they see no softening in demand, while executives at Swiss said they're seeing a drop in leisure bookings.

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The number of overall visitors to the U.S. from Western Europe fell 1% in February 2025 compared to 2024, according to preliminary data from the U.S. International Trade Administration. The data also shows that the number of Western Europeans arriving by air fell by 2%.

Despite the uncertainty, the number of seats between the U.S. and Europe is scheduled to increase by 4.5% in the second and third quarters — or April through September — compared to last year, according to Cirium.

Iberia plans to increase U.S. seats by nearly 2% during the six months ending in September, schedules show.

Orlando is the airline's 10th U.S. destination and second in Florida after Miami International Airport (MIA).

Here are the details of Iberia's new Orlando schedule:

• MCO-MAD: Departs at 6:20 p.m. and arrives at 7:55 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
• MAD-MCO: Departs at 11:30 a.m. and arrives at 4:45 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

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