Starting this month, Iberia will start taking delivery of three Airbus A350-900s and six A320neos. Over the next two years, the airline plans on adding another A350-900 with a new cabin configuration, plus three more A320neos and their first A321XLR.
On Sunday (February 27, 2022), Iberia announced an acceleration of their fleet renewal plans as the airline industry recovers in the post-pandemic environment. Starting this month, the carrier will begin taking delivery of three Airbus A350-900s and six A320neos. Over the next two years, Iberia will add another A350-900 with a new cabin configuration and three more A320neos, and will also take delivery of their first A321XLR by the end of 2023. Out of 20 A350-900s on order, Iberia has received 10 aircraft, most recently taking delivery of ‘Hola Madrid’, registration EC-NMZ on February 23, 2022. Two more A350s will join the carrier’s fleet by the end of March, bringing the total to 12. The remaining eight aircraft will be successively delivered through 2024 and will feature a new cabin configuration with Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins.
In Sunday’s announcement, Iberia’s Chairman and CEO, Javier Sánchez Prieto, said,
“The arrival of new aircraft is a clear sign of a recovery which we expect to be consolidated in the course of the year, and it will also enable us to offer a very ambitious summer program this year while increasing efficiency and contributing to the sustainability of our operations. The fleet expansion is the best possible news for our staff, which can use the encouragement after these two years of the pandemic.”
Thanks to advanced Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and lighter airframe construction materials, the Airbus A350-900s are 30 to 35 percent more fuel efficient than the aircraft they are replacing in Iberia’s fleet. The six new A320neos the carrier will receive this year feature the spacious Airspace by Airbus cabin and will expand Iberia’s fleet to 14 of the type. Powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, the A320neo is 50 percent quieter and offers a 15-20 percent reduction in fuel burn compared to its predecessors. Iberia’s remaining three A320neos on order will be delivered in 2023. As previously mentioned, Iberia will receive their first of eight A321XLRs ordered by IAG in 2019 for the carrier in late 2023, allowing Iberia to offer new transatlantic destinations.
With the addition of the latest A350-900, the Iberia Group’s fleet has grown to 147 aircraft, including 75 A350, A330 and A320 Family aircraft operated by Iberia, 19 A320s flown by Iberia Express, and an additional 53 aircraft operated by Iberia Regional Air Nostrum.
Source: Iberia
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