As you know, Iberia will be the launch customer of the Airbus A321XLR . The first aircraft is registered EC-OIL. Like future deliveries, the aircraft will operate in a two-class, 182-seat layout, with 14 business seats and 168 in economy.
While the brand-new variant was to enter service in mid-November from Madrid to Boston , the plan has changed. It will now operate two intra-European services from October 26 , the last day of the northern summer season, based on IATA slot seasons. While most airlines initially deploy new equipment on short routes for crew training reasons, Iberia has numerous Airbus A320 family aircraft.
The new initial plan for Iberia's A321XLRs As of September 16, and still subject to change, the world's first XLR will operate from the carrier's Madrid hub to London Heathrow and Paris CDG . The first passenger-carrying flights will lift off on Saturday, October 26 . The 672 nautical mile (1,244 km) link to the UK's busiest airport will only occur six times: October 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31.
In contrast, Paris will be served 32 times: daily until the end of October, then double daily until November 13—the day before long-haul flying begins. Flying from October 26 until October 31 The first six days of flying are as follows, with all times local. The big change in flight numbers takes effect on October 27, when northern airlines, including Iberia, switch to winter schedules.
Madrid-London Heathrow : IB3170, 07:00-08:25 (thereafter, IB711, 06:55-08:25) London Heathrow-Madrid : IB3163, 09:15-12:40 (thereafter, IB712, 09:15-12:40) Madrid-Paris CDG : IB3398, 15:55-18:00 (thereafter, IB589, 15:50-18:00) Paris CDG-Madrid : IB3425, 19:30-21:40 (thereafter, IB590, 19:30-21:40) Want tickets? Find them here! Flying from November 1 until November 13 EC-OIL's schedule from Friday, November 1, will be as follows. It will be a leisurely existence. Madrid-Paris CDG : IB585, 08:00-10:10 Paris CDG-Madrid : IB586, 11:45-13:55 Madrid-Paris CDG : IB589, 15:50-18:00 Paris CDG-Madrid : IB590, 19:30-21:40 Long-haul flying on November 14 Iberia's initial XLR long-haul plan remains unchanged.
The 2,963 nautical mile (5,487 km) route from Madrid to Boston will become the variant's inaugural long-haul service on November 14 . That day, the schedule will be as follows, with all times local. Note that the first flight from the US is not until November 15.
Madrid-Boston : IB347, 12:35-15:00 (8h 25m block) Boston-Madrid : IB348, 16:35-05:40+1 (7h 5m) Which passenger aircraft do you think made the cut in September? The variant will initially serve the Massachusetts city three times weekly and coexist with a weekly A330 service. In the run-up to Christmas, it will rise to five and then six times weekly on the XLR before becoming daily in late January 2025. It will increase to a maximum of double daily next summer.
Second transatlantic route in January The second long-haul service will begin on January 15 from Madrid to Washington Dulles, operating six times weekly. Iberia served Dulles until 2010 and then again from 2022. It was summer-seasonal in 2022/2023/2024, but the XLR's lower capacity and far lower trip costs have enabled it to be year-round.
It is scheduled as follows, with all times local: Madrid-Washington Dulles : IB361, 13:00-16:20 (9h 20m) Washington Dulles-Madrid : IB362, 17:50-07:35+1 (7h 45m).
