Iberia celebrated the arrival of its first flight between Madrid and Toronto, marking the launch of the direct service between Spain and Canada. With a load factor above 95%, the flight highlights the strong market demand for this new connection.
Flight IB0367 departed Madrid at 12:00 p.m. last saturday and landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 2:30 p.m. local time. Iberia will operate five weekly flights between the two cities — Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — offering more than 37,000 seats during the summer season.
The arrival of the inaugural flight was celebrated with a special event at Toronto Pearson International Airport attended by Juan Cierco, Corporate Director at Iberia; Luis Martín Izquierdo, Vice-Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Madrid Regional Government; Almudena Maíllo, Councillor for Tourism at Madrid City Council; and Kurush Minocher, Chief Commercial Officer, Toronto Pearson.
In a particularly challenging environment for the aviation industry, marked by fuel price volatility and geopolitical tensions, Iberia continues to advance its Flight Plan 2030, the airline’s strategic roadmap for the coming years. In this context, the launch of the Madrid-Toronto route represents another step in Iberia’s international expansion strategy. The plan includes a €6 billion investment in fleet renewal and expansion, the digitalization of services, enhancements to the customer experience and the opening of new destinations.
“Today, we are not simply launching a new route. We are bringing people, businesses and cultures closer together on both sides of the Atlantic. Toronto is now part of that purpose: from Spain, we generate prosperity by connecting people with the world. Operated with the Airbus A321XLR, this route also demonstrates how innovation can help bring new markets closer together and create new opportunities for travellers and businesses alike”, said Juan Cierco, Corporate Director at Iberia.
For his part, Luis Martín Izquierdo, Vice-Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Regional Government of Madrid, stated that “the launch of this direct connection will help maintain and strengthen the growing trend of Canadian visitors travelling to Madrid, while also reinforcing economic and business ties between our two markets. In the first four months of 2026 alone, demand has increased by 42.3% compared with the same period last year”.
Similarly, Almudena Maíllo, Councillor for Tourism at Madrid City Council, highlighted that “the launch of this new route is excellent news for Madrid’s tourism industry, further strengthening the city’s connectivity with North America. The Canadian market is among the ten fastest-growing source markets for Madrid this year, with visitor numbers increasing by 9.5%”.
According to Maíllo, the route “reflects the joint efforts of the public and private sectors to promote Madrid as a destination and encourages us to continue working so that high-value visitors, such as those now arriving from Canada, can discover a welcoming city unlike any other in the world and fall in love with the unique experiences that Madrid has to offer”.
The A321XLR at the Heart of Iberia’s Transatlantic Expansion
The new Toronto route is operated by the Airbus A321XLR, the most efficient aircraft in Iberia’s fleet for transatlantic flights. This model has become one of the most efficient on the market, delivering up to 40% fuel savings compared to wide-body aircraft. It enables Iberia to operate transatlantic routes more efficiently while maintaining the comfort standards of its long-haul fleet.
The A321XLR features the new Airspace cabin, offering larger overhead compartments, LED lighting, and a greater sense of space, enhancing the onboard experience. It has two classes—Business and Economy—with a total of 182 seats.
In November 2024, Iberia became the first airline in the world to operate the Airbus A321XLR commercially, marking a new chapter in transatlantic connectivity.
Connecting Canada with Spain and Europe
Through Madrid, customers travelling from Toronto will be able to connect with 46 destinations across Spain and more than 60 destinations across Europe, making Madrid an ideal gateway for both leisure and business travel.
Customers travelling with Iberia can also take advantage of the airline’s Stopover Hola Madrid programme, which allows travellers connecting through Madrid to stay in the Spanish capital for up to nine nights at no additional airfare cost.
