Photo: Iberia Iberia has relaunched its nonstop route between Madrid and Washington D.C.
Now the Spanish airline operated for the first time with the advanced Airbus A321XLR — the new long-range, single-aisle aircraft.
The inaugural flight on this route took place last Saturday, April 12.
As the global launch customer for the Airbus A321XLR on transatlantic routes, Iberia made aviation headlines in November 2024 when it debuted the new long-range narrowbody on its Madrid–Boston service. The milestone marked a new chapter in single-aisle transatlantic travel, showcasing the aircraft’s extended range and efficiency on medium-demand routes. Now, with the addition of Washington, D.C., Iberia expands the A321XLR’s footprint across the Atlantic. The U.S. capital becomes the second American destination served by the airline with this next-generation jet, reinforcing Iberia’s strategy of leveraging the A321XLR to connect key North American cities with its Madrid hub more efficiently and frequently.
Starting this week, Iberia will fly the Madrid–Washington route six times a week through August, increasing to daily service in September and October. Unlike in previous years, the airline plans to operate the route year-round, moving beyond its former seasonal model.
Iberia emphasizes that the A321XLR enables more flexible and efficient expansion across the Atlantic.
In total, the airline will operate 140 weekly flights between Spain and the U.S. this summer — a 14% increase over last year.