Industry First A350 XBW delivered to Iberia

The A350 delivered to Iberia on Tuesday features the latest performance improvement package including a wing twist, extended winglets and increased maximum takeoff weight capability. It holds 348 seats, being 31 full lie-flat Business class seats, 24 Premium Economy and 293 Economy class seats.

Luis Gallego, President of Iberia, is proud to be transforming the airline to excellence, saying that the A350 XWB represents this drive. Airbus CEO Tom Enders congratulates Iberia and IAG on operating every member of the Airbus commercial aircraft family, including the largest A380 and now the most modern A350.

The A350 XWB, which Iberia now operates as the first of 16 aircraft on order, features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. These technologies stand for unrivalled levels of operational efficiency. Fuel burn and emissions are reduced by 25 percent and maintenance costs significantly lower. To reduce its carbon footprint even further, the A350 XWB was delivered from Toulouse to Madrid with a blend of sustainable jet fuel. Airbus has, to date, recorded 847 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 44 customers worldwide.

Iberia is Spain’s largest airline based in Madrid operating its hub at Madrid-Barajas Airport. Spain’s flag carrier now operates a fleet of 82 aircraft, all Airbus aircraft. Including Iberia Express, the airline operates more than 100 aircraft in their all-Airbus fleet.

IAG, the International Airlines Group, is one of the world’s largest airline groups carrying around 105 million passengers each year. In 2011 Iberia was a founding member airline of IAG, which today is the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling. IAG operates its own low cost long haul airline brand, Level, that started operating in June 2017.