Iberia is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its history with Mexico, spanning more than seven decades in which it has strengthened its position and become a key player in the development of connectivity and the air travel market between that country and Europe. This bond, which continues to this day, began to be forged on March 15, 1950, when the first Iberia flight connecting Madrid with Mexico City took place aboard a Douglas DC-4 aircraft and made stops in Lisbon, the Azores Islands, the Bahamas, and Havana, before landing in the Mexican capital. This journey cost $486 one way and $874.80 round trip, equivalent to 4,204 and 7,568 Mexican pesos at the then-current exchange rate. Since then, Iberia has continued to strengthen its operations with Mexico, currently boasting a capacity of more than 2,000 seats daily connecting both countries. Specifically, Iberia currently has three daily flights (21 weekly frequencies) operated entirely by A350 aircraft, representing a capacity of more than 772,000 seats by 2025.
Commemorative Action On Board
To celebrate this anniversary, on the three flights operating today from Madrid to Mexico City, customers have been given beautiful postcards of the Alebrije, the most colorful fantastic figure of Mexican folk art, courtesy of the Casa de México in Madrid.
Partnership with the Casa de México Foundation in Spain Iberia has just signed an agreement with the Casa de México Foundation in Spain to promote the scholarship program for Mexican students. This agreement will provide up to 30 Mexico-Madrid flights for students selected in the 2025-2026 call, facilitating their travel and contributing to the internationalization of Mexican talent. The collaboration with Casa de México reflects Iberia's commitment to social impact, providing new
educational and professional opportunities for Mexicans in Spain. Social impact, at the heart of Iberia Iberia's activities have a positive social impact on the communities of the countries where it operates, both economically and through job creation.
Specifically, Iberia's route between Madrid and Mexico City generates 11,370 direct, indirect, and induced jobs and contributes €336 million to the GDP of both countries. Iberia remains the leader in flights between Europe and Latin America, with a consolidated operation and plans for sustained growth. It is part of the IAG group and is committed to operating with 10% sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. In 2024, Iberia was the second most punctual airline in Europe and the eighth most punctual in the world. Just this week, Cirum published punctuality data for all airlines for the month of February, and Iberia is ranked the most punctual airline in Europe and the second most punctual in the world.