Iberia strengthens flights to Latin America, the United States, Italy and Spain after leading IAG in profits
The figures that are known from the last few months' operations and economic results are positive for Iberia, which has outlined its roadmap for the season that begins in October with an objective that could be summed up in one sentence: a return to pre-pandemic normality. Recovery or increase of routes and frequencies, as well as having more aircraft to meet these objectives. The fleet will rise to 148 aircraft from 131.
The summer has, however, been very demanding, according to the airline's president, Javier Sánchez-Prieto, who referred to the lack of staff at airports which has affected flights and, consequently, airline customers. However, Iberia, he added, has emerged practically unscathed from the air chaos; it was the most punctual airline in Europe in June and the fifth most punctual in the world, avoiding massive flight cancellations.
It is now preparing for the challenge of the new season, which continues to be marked by rising oil prices and the threat of global economic recession in a world still subject to the war in Eastern Europe. In this scenario Iberia trusts the recovery or improvement of the figures prior to 2019 to the evolution of various destinations: Latin America, the United States, and also in a greater deployment of short and medium-haul flights, such as those with both departure and destination Spanish airports.
To the United States, the Spanish airline belonging to the IAG group, which also includes British Airways, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Level, will extend its operations to Dallas, with four frequencies in March. And it will increase flights to two star destinations in that country: New York and Miami. It has also scheduled flights for the winter to all the US destinations it flew to before the pandemic.
In Latin America, a priority objective is to strengthen connectivity with Mexico, which has become the airline's most important market, followed by Argentina, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Panama. It has scheduled flights three times a week to Rio de Janeiro and Caracas; it is also increasing its connection with Havana (5 frequencies per week), as well as the Guatemala-El Salvador route (7), Quito (6), and Guayaquil (3).
For Europe, the goal is a greater deployment, among other destinations, to Italy, France and Portugal, and with the aim of attracting customers not only for holiday purposes; an increase in demand for travel related to business activities has been detected. In this line, it has programmed seven additional frequencies to Milan (from 28 to 35 weekly flights) and Rome, with four more frequencies and 37 weekly flights. In Portugal, it is increasing its Lisbon route to 40 flights a week (up to six flights a day), and will offer its Madeira route. Capacity will also be increased to Brussels, Geneva and Bordeaux.
In Spain, the group's airlines will offer a flight schedule focused, given the season that begins in autumn, on business traffic and on the Balearic and Canary Islands, and will recover in the winter season the operations on the Madrid-Barcelona air bridge prior to the pandemic with 87 weekly frequencies and up to 15 daily flights in each direction.
A breakdown of IAG's second quarter results, which totalled 293 million euros, compared to a loss of 967 million euros in the same period of the previous year, shows that Iberia was the group's largest contributor. Aer Lingus made a profit of 15 million euros; British, more than 60 million euros, Vueling reached 40 million euros, while Iberia reached 93 million euros. British continues to be more affected by border closures in Asian destinations.
