:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TAL-airplane-landing-spain-SPANISHAIRLINE0625-a8580b3b8296431ea884699c76e1becf.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1267&ssl=1 "This Airline Is Making It Easier to Fly to Spain From North America—What to Know")
- Iberia Airlines will invest approximately $6.9 billion into its flight operations.
- The airline will also increase flights to Spain from Philadelphia and recently began a new route from Orlando, Florida.
- The new routes come as citizens of Spain have campaigned against over-tourism.
Tourism in Spain may soar to new heights by 2030.
Madrid-based Iberia Airlines recently announced it will be investing more than 6 billion euros (or $6.9 billion) in its route network and operations. With the new investment, the airline will increase its flight loads from Philadelphia to Europe, which will complement its recent addition of a route from Orlando, Florida, to Madrid.
The airline is slated to completely overhaul and update its economy and business seats, as well as the in flight experience.
The airline operates its flights from Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD). The airport is also known by its name of “Barajas” and has been growing in popularity as more travelers visit Spain. With the new investment, the airport’s traffic will likely increase.
“We want to grow from the current 45 long-haul aircraft to 70 to position Barajas as a major European hub and enhance Spain’s global connectivity,” Iberia’s president and CEO Marco Sansavini said in a news release.
The news release also noted: “Iberia will strengthen its frequencies and expand its destinations by flying to Toronto, Philadelphia, and Monterrey, as well as the newly announced destinations: Recife, Fortaleza, and Orlando.”
The expanded flight operations come as the airline has delivered industry-leading on-time departures and arrivals for its schedule. “In February, Iberia was ranked as the most punctual airline in Europe and the second most punctual airline in the world, according to the ranking prepared by the international consultancy Cirium,” the airline shared in a March 2025 press release.
Iberia currently operates flights throughout the United States including Boston, Dallas, New York, and Washington Dulles. The airline is also a member of the Oneworld alliance, which includes Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Qantas, Qatar, and Royal Jordanian.
Spain has already seen a major surge in tourism, with more than 94 million tourists in 2024 according to Spain’s Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu, as reported by Reuters. The popularity is causing tension with citizens, who have campaigned against overtourism.