Iberia (airline)

Iberia
IATA ICAO Callsign
IB IBE IBERIA
Founded 28 June 1927
Hubs Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
Focus cities Barcelona–El Prat Airport
Frequent-flyer program Iberia Plus
Airport lounge Sala VIP
Alliance Oneworld
Subsidiaries
Fleet size 128 (including subsidiaries)
Destinations 109
Company slogan ¿Y mañana, te imaginas?
(And tomorrow, can you imagine?)
Parent company International Airlines Group
Headquarters Madrid, Spain[1]
Key people
Website iberia.com

Iberia, Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A. Operadora, Sociedad Unipersonal, trading as IBERIA, is the flag carrier and largest airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport.[3]

Iberia, with Iberia Regional (operated by an independent carrier Air Nostrum) and with Iberia Express, is a part of Iberia Group. In addition to transporting passengers and freight, Iberia Group carries out related activities, such as aircraft maintenance, handling in airports, IT systems and in-flight catering. Iberia Group airlines fly to over 102 destinations in 39 countries, and a further 90 destinations through code-sharing agreements with other airlines.[3]

On 8 April 2010, it was confirmed that British Airways and Iberia had signed an agreement to merge,[4] making the combined operation the third largest commercial airline in the world by revenue.[5] Shareholders of both carriers approved the deal on 29 November 2010.[6] The newly merged company, known as International Airlines Group (IAG), was established in January 2011, although both airlines will continue to operate under their current brands.[7]

History

Main article: History of Iberia
An Iberia Sud Aviation Caravelle seen in May 1973
Iberia logo used 1992-2013

Iberia, Compañía Aérea de Transportes was incorporated on 28 June 1927 with a capital investment by the financier Horacio Echevarrieta and Deutsche Luft Hansa of 1.1 million pesetas. Flight operations started on 14 December 1927. Within a year, the company was sponsored by the Spanis government to provide postal transport between Madrid and Barcelona. During the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera, the aviation companies in Spain were combined and became state-controlled as a general interest public utility, coming into effect in early 1928. As a consequence, Iberia was merged into Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas S.A. (C.L.A.S.S.A.) and ceased activities as an independent airline on 29 May 1929.[8] The name "Iberia" continued to be registered by Director-General Daniel de Araoz y Aréjula. As the name "Iberia" was still registered, it was used when operations began in nationalist-held territory towards the end of the Spanish Civil War. Following the Civil War, Iberia became a purely domestic airline.

The airline was nationalised on 30 September 1944 and became part of INI. In 1946, Iberia was the first airline to fly between Europe and South America after World War II, using a Douglas DC-4 to operate flights between Madrid and Buenos Aires.[3] By the Pact of Madrid in 1953, visa requirements were eliminated for US visitors to Spain. This stimulated the start of transatlantic flights between Spain and United States the following year. In addition, the amendments made in Montreal to the Convention on International Civil Aviation on 14 June 1954 were liberal to Spain, allowing mass tourism using charter planes.

By the time of its 50th anniversary in 1981, the airline carried over ten million passengers in a year for the first time.

In 1987 Iberia, together with Lufthansa, Air France and SAS, founded Amadeus, an IT company (also known as a GDS) that would enable travel agencies to sell the founders' and other airlines' products from a single system.

During 2001 Iberia was privatised and shares were listed on stock exchanges. By 2002, when Iberia celebrated their 75th anniversary, nearly 500 million people had flown with them.

On 5 February 2006 the new Terminal 4 at Madrid Barajas was turned over to Iberia and the Oneworld alliance members. This provided much-needed expansion capabilities for Iberia. Iberia is responsible for around 60% of the airport's traffic. In 2005 the airline and its regional branch Air Nostrum transported 21,619,041 passengers to/from Barajas.

In November 2012 Iberia announced plans to reduce the number of employees by 4,500 and its fleet by five long-haul and 20 short-haul aircraft.[9]

Until 2013, Iberia's livery consisted of a white background with large orange and yellow accent stripes and a stylized IB on the tail used since 1978. On 15 October 2013 Iberia released its new corporate design, which first appeared on a newly delivered A330-300 in late November and is gradually being applied across the fleet.[10]

Corporate affairs

Head office

Head office of Iberia in the MV49 Business Park in Madrid.

The company head office is in the MV49 Business Park in Madrid.[11][12] This facility is in proximity to the intersection of the Autopista de Circunvalación M-30 and Avenida de América. In 2013 the company moved its head office from the former Campos Velázquez,[11] in the Salamanca district of Madrid,[13] to save money.[11]

Ownership

On 3 April 2001, Iberia was privatised and included in the IBEX-35 stock index of the Madrid stock exchange. The core shareholders were: Caja Madrid– 23.45%, British Airways 13.2%, SEPI– 5.20%, El Corte Inglés– 2.90%.[14] British Airways raised its stake in Iberia by purchasing American Airlines' remaining shares, reportedly paying £13m for the small shareholding. This increased BA's total stake in Iberia to around 10% and preserved its two seats on the Iberia board.[15]

On July 2008 British Airways and Iberia announced plans to merge, wherein each airline would retain its original brand.[16] The agreement was confirmed in April 2010,[17] and in July the European Commission and US Department of Transport permitted the merger and began to co-ordinate transatlantic routes with American Airlines.[18][19] On 6 October 2010 the alliance between British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia formally began operations. The alliance generates an estimated £230 million in annual cost-saving for BA, in addition to the £330 million which would be saved by the merge with Iberia.[20][21] The merger was finalised on 21 January 2011, resulting in the International Airlines Group (IAG), the world's third-largest airline in terms of annual revenue and the second-largest airline group in Europe.[17][22]

Prior to merging, British Airways owned a 13.5% stake in Iberia, and thus received ownership of 55% of the combined International Airlines Group; Iberia's other shareholders received the remaining 45%.[23]

The merger has been controversial. British Airways operates two funded principal defined benefit pension schemes in the UK. BA admits that one of the most serious financial risks they suffer is the challenging pension schemes combined deficit. The last actuarial valuation was 3.7bn pounds, value even greater than IAG capitalisation. In addition and according to the "Pensions Act" for the year 2004, should it be necessary, UK's Pension Regulator could force Iberia or IAG to give additional financial support to BA's retirement pension schemes. In their "Annual Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2011" BA declares that "negative movements in pension asset values and financial returns from these assets may increase the size of the pension deficit". This is the reason why IAG is currently under dividend restrictions which are expected to be partly dependent on the UK pension regulator's agreement.

As of December 2013, the airline had over 18,000 employees.[24]

Subsidiaries and alliances

Iberia aircraft at Madrid Barajas Airport.

Iberia has a 9.49% stake in low-cost carrier Vueling which is based near Barcelona, with parent company IAG owning the remaining 90.51%. This was done to ensure that IAG does not have 100% of the shares in Vueling, but that the shares are split between its divisions. Iberia also has a 0.95% share in Royal Air Maroc.[3]

Iberia is allied with American Airlines, Qantas, Avianca, British Airways, and Grupo TACA, and on 1 September 1999, the company joined the Oneworld alliance. British Airways owns 55% of its share capital.

Iberia has a codeshare agreement with several Oneworld members: Cathay Pacific on flights from Amsterdam and London Heathrow to Hong Kong, Japan Airlines on flights from Amsterdam to Tokyo Narita and Royal Jordanian from Madrid to Amman, and with LAN Airlines for flights connecting Latin America and most of Europe.

Iberia formerly owned Aviaco, which operated most domestic routes. It was founded on 18 February 1948 and operated until 1 September 1999. Iberia also owned Binter Canarias, until the Spanish government began the privatisation of the subsidiary. Hesperia Inversiones Aéreas bought the airline from Iberia in July 2002. A second airline using the Binter name, Binter Mediterraneo, was formed as a subsidiary of Iberia in 1988 with routes from Melilla to Malaga, Almeria, Valencia and in its last year, with Madrid. The airline was acquired by Air Nostrum in 1998 and merged into its operations.

Destinations

Main article: Iberia destinations

Codeshare agreements

Iberia has codeshare agreements with the following airlines (as of December 2015):

Fleet

Current fleet

Iberia Airbus A319-100 in retro livery
Iberia Airbus A321-200
Iberia Airbus A330-300
Iberia Airbus A340-600

Iberia operates an all-Airbus fleet of the following aircraft, as of February 2016:[30]

Iberia Fleet
Aircraft In Service[31][32] Orders[33] Options Passengers Notes
P Y Total
Airbus A319-100 15 – – var
14		 var
108		 141
122		 to be replaced by A320neo and A321neo
Airbus A320-200 13 – – var var 171
Airbus A320neo - 12 – TBA
Airbus A321-200 17 – – var var 200
Airbus A321neo - 3 – TBA
Airbus A330-200 1 12 – 19 269 288 deliveries since December 2015[34][35]
Airbus A330-300 8 – – 36 242 278
Airbus A340-300 7 – – 24 265 289 to be replaced by Airbus A330-200s[34]
Airbus A340-600 17 – – 42
46		 300
300		 342
346
Airbus A350-900 – 16[35] 16 TBA EIS: 2017
Total 78 44 16

Fleet development

Iberia's Boeing 747-200s were retired in 2005.

Over the years, Iberia operated the following aircraft types:[36][37]

Aircraft Introduced Retired
Airbus A300 1981 2002
Airbus A319-100 2000
Airbus A320-200 1990
Airbus A321-200 1999
Airbus A330-300 2013
Airbus A340-300 1996
Airbus A340-600 2004
Boeing 727-200 1972 2001
Boeing 737-300 1988 1990
Boeing 737-400 1998 2001
Boeing 747-100 1970 1981
Boeing 747-200 1972 2005
Boeing 747-300 2000 2005
Boeing 747-400 2004 2006
Boeing 757-200 1993 2008
Boeing 767-300 1998 2001
Bristol 170 Freighter MK.31 1953 1963
Convair 440 1957 1972
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide 1934 1953
Dornier Do J Wal 1935 1936
Douglas DC-1 1938 1940
Douglas DC-2 1935 1946
Douglas DC-3 1944 1973
Douglas DC-4 1946 1968
Douglas DC-8 1961 1983
Douglas DC-9 1967 2001
Fokker F28 1970 1975
Ford Trimotor 1930 1946
Junkers G 24 1929 1936
Junkers Ju 52 1937 1957
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1997 1998
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation 1954 1966
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 1974 2000
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 1990 2008
McDonnell Douglas MD-88 1999 2008
Rohrbach Ro-VIII Roland 1927 1929
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc 1952 1960
Sud Caravelle 1962 1987

Services

Iberia was a founding partner in the computerised air ticket reservation system, Amadeus, with an 18.28% stake – this was sold in 2005. Iberia is also active as a tour operator through its Viva Tours and Tiempo Libre units, and with Cacesa, it supplies parcel shipment services. e-tickets sales accounted for 93% of all Iberia tickets sold in January 2006.

In addition, Iberia is an aircraft maintenance company, servicing its fleet and those of another 48 companies, including some leading European airlines. Iberia is a supplier of aircraft handling services at all Spanish airports; its airline clients number more than 200.

Cabins

Business Plus cabin on board an Iberia Airbus A330-300

All of aircraft in the fleet are configured in a two class layout with Business and Economy cabins. Iberia was one of the last remaining major airlines that has equipped all of its intercontinental routes with PTVs (as for 2016 Iberia has its A330 (200-300) Fleet with IFE installed as well as the A340-600 fleet). In March 2009 Iberia announced that during the course of 2009–2011 it would renovate its economy class on all its planes as well as designing a new business class for its long haul planes. In-flight catering is provided by Gate Gourmet. Iberia currently markets three distinct business class variations, depending on flight length:

Business Class

Business Class is available on Spanish domestic and inter-European flights. Seats are exactly the same as in the economy cabin, but with the middle (B and E) seats blocked off. Business Class tickets also include improved ground service (priority check-in, security, boarding, baggage handling, and lounge access.)

Business Club

Business Club is a mid-haul product available on flights to select destinations in Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Israel, Nigeria, and Russia. Unlike on short-haul service, Business Club seats are located in a dedicated cabin, are physically wider, have a greater seat pitch, and are equipped with leg-rests and in-seat video on demand.

Business Plus

Business Plus is offered on long-haul flights to the Americas and Southern Africa. Business Plus offers lie-flat seating and international business class amenities.

Economy

Iberia has moved more to an American, or "a-la carte" model for domestic and European flights, offering a buy on board service called "Tu Menú" in economy for meals, snacks and beverages.[38] Mid-haul flights to Athens, Cairo, Dakar, Istanbul, Malabo, Moscow, and Tel Aviv as well as long-haul intercontinental flights are fully catered in Economy with the exception of alcohol.[39]

Incidents and accidents

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Airline Membership". IATA.
  2. ↑ "Iberia Express CEO Takes Charge Of Parent". Aviation Week. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. pp. 91–92.
  4. ↑ "British Airways and Iberia sign merger agreement". BBC News. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  5. ↑ "BA seals long-awaited Iberia deal". Reuters UK. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  6. ↑ "BA Iberia merger gets approval from shareholders". BBC News (BBC News). 29 November 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "IAG shares begin trading, replacing BA and Iberia". BBC News Online. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  8. ↑ Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas S.A. (C.L.A.S.S.A.)
  9. ↑ "Iberia to cut 4,500 staff and reduce fleet by 25 aircraft". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  10. ↑ "Iberia unveils new colour scheme". http://www.flightglobal.com/. Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 16 October 2013. External link in |work= (help)
  11. 1 2 3 "Iberia se muda de sede por un "importante ahorro de costes"" (Archive). Preferente. 8 January 2013. Retrieved on August 13, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Legal information." Iberia. Retrieved on August 13, 2014. "IBERIA LAE SA Operadora Unipersonal, with official address at C/ Martínez Villergas, 49 28027 Madrid"
  13. ↑ "Legal notice." Iberia. Retrieved on 25 February 2010. "IBERIA, Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A. with official address at Calle Velázquez no. 130, 28006 Madrid,"
  14. ↑ "Inicio - Iberia". Grupo.iberia.es. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  15. ↑ Airliner World January 2007
  16. ↑ Brothers, Caroline (30 July 2008). "British Airways in Merger Talks". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  17. 1 2 "British Airways and Iberia sign merger agreement". BBC News. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  18. ↑ Rowley, Emma (15 July 2010). "EC approves BA alliance with American Airlines and Iberia". The Telegraph (London). Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  19. ↑ Kamal Ahmed (14 February 2010). "British Airways given approval for tie up with American Airlines and Iberia". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  20. ↑ Wilson, Elliot (14 July 2010). "British Airways' three-way alliance cleared for takeoff". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  21. ↑ "Airlines unveil 'new deal for transatlantic flyers'". The Independent (London). 8 October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  22. ↑ "Iberia expects to complete merger with British Airways in January". Daily Nation. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  23. ↑ "BA and Iberia agree merger deal". BBC News. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  24. ↑ Moores, Victoria (24 July 2014). "Iberia pilots and ground staff agree to job cuts". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014.
  25. ↑ L, J (29 January 2016). "airBaltic / IBERIA to Start Codeshare Service from Feb 2016". Airline Route. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  26. ↑ "IBERIA / Boliviana de Aviación Begins Codeshare Service from late-Oct 2015". Airline Route UK. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  27. ↑ "Airline alliances". Britishairways.com. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  28. ↑ "Iberia, Interjet sign codeshare agreement". Air Transport World. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  29. ↑ "Brazil's TAM signs code-sharing deal with Iberia". Yahoo Finance UK. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "Iberia". planespotters.net. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  31. ↑ Fleet Iberia en airfleets.com
  32. ↑ Flota - Grupo Iberia
  33. ↑ Listados oficiales de Airbus con aeronaves encargadas, entregadas y operadas en airbus.com
  34. 1 2 http://worldairlinenews.com/2015/03/05/iberia-to-take-early-delivery-of-8-airbus-a330-200s-to-speed-up-the-retirement-of-the-a340-300s/
  35. 1 2 http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/iag-orders-31-widebody-single-aisle-aircraft/
  36. ↑ "Iberia fleet development listing at". Airfleets.net. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  37. ↑ Customer Summary Through March 2013. Boeing.com.
  38. ↑ "Tu Menú." Iberia Airlines. Accessed October 11, 2008.
  39. ↑ "Economy." Iberia. Retrieved on 13 December 2011.

Bibliography

External links

Media related to Iberia at Wikimedia Commons

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