Source: Iberia
- On 1 July 1949, Iberia operated its first flight between the capitals of Spain and France aboard a DC-4.
- To mark the anniversary, the airline is offering Iberia Plus customers twice as many Avios on any flight booked between 1 and 31 July to fly to Paris and it is also raffling off two tickets to Disneyland Paris.
On this day 75 years ago, an Iberia plane took off for Paris for the first time. This historic flight marked a significant milestone in Spanish commercial aviation and established a crucial connection between Madrid and the French capital.
The A320neo Continues the Route Started by the DC-4 Skymaster
On 1 July 1949, Flight IB162 took off from Madrid at 10:30am on a Douglas DC-4 Skymaster aircraft. It arrived in Paris at 2:15pm and then continued the route to London-Heathrow Airport. Passengers on board enjoyed lunch and a snack, a sign of Iberia commitment to the comfort and satisfaction of its customers since the airline first operations.
The innovative features of the Douglas DC-4 Skymaster made it an exponent of the technological and aeronautical advances of the time. It was the first aircraft to have integral fuel tanks in the wings, a tricycle train with retracting wheels housed in closed compartments, and a constant section fuselage. The airline used it between 1946 and 1968.
Today, Iberia operates up to ten daily flights between both capitals with the Airbus A320neo. This model can carry up to 186 passengers, far more than the 66 passengers who were able to enjoy the first route to Paris. The A320neo is the most advanced aircraft, in terms of technology and efficiency, in the airline short and medium-haul fleet. Equipped with Leap-1A CFM engines, it is 50% quieter than its predecessors, consumes between 15% and 20% less fuel and, therefore, reduces CO2 emissions and produces 50% less NOx.
The Same Commitment Over the Years
In 1949, the cost of a return flight to Paris was 2,340 pesetas. And if the passenger was carrying excess luggage, 14 pesetas per kilo were added to the initial sum. Currently, customers can purchase tickets to fly to Paris on iberia.com for just €92 for a round trip, and a flight plus two nights in a hotel from €179. But there’s more: on the occasion of the anniversary of the flights between Madrid and Paris, Iberia will offer bonus Avios. Iberia Plus customers will have double Avios on any reservation made between 1 and 31 July 2024 to travel between 1 July and 31 December 2024 to Paris.
In addition, Iberia Plus passengers will also be able to enter a draw for two three- day passes for a magical trip to Disneyland Paris. It will take place on 1 August 2024 and the winner will be notified shortly after. The only requirement is to be an Iberia Plus member.