Iberia and China Southern Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement in Madrid that strengthens connectivity between China, Europe, and Latin America. The new direct Guangzhou–Madrid route, operated by China Southern, will be the backbone of this cooperation. Thanks to this flight and the collaboration between both airlines, Iberia customers will be able to connect to major Chinese cities via Guangzhou, while travellers from China will gain access to Iberia’s extensive network in Spain, Europe, and Latin America, consolidating Madrid’s position as a global connection platform.
Under this agreement, Iberia will add its code (IB) to China Southern’s Guangzhou - Madrid as well as destinations of major Chinese cities. Meanwhile, China Southern’s code (CZ) will be marketed, in connection with its services to Madrid, on most of Iberia’s domestic destinations and on several cities in Latin America.
Iberia's codeshare flights with China Southern will operate three times a week, connecting Madrid and Guangzhou on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
"This alliance is a decisive step in our international growth strategy. It strengthens Madrid’s position as an intercontinental hub and consolidates Iberia’s role as a natural bridge between Europe, Asia, and Latin America. This agreement complements our flights to Tokyo and Doha and reflects our strong commitment to Asia, offering more options and a travel experience that meets the demands of an increasingly global and competitive market," said María Jesús López Solás, Commercial, Network Development and Alliances Director at Iberia.
Iberia in Asia
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Spain’s geographical location makes it the natural gateway to connect Latin America with Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Iberia consolidates its presence in Asia with a network that combines its own routes and strategic alliances. It operates a daily flight to Doha, complemented by Qatar Airways’ up to three daily frequencies on the same route, and four weekly flights to Tokyo, reinforcing its position in key markets across the continent.
With the Doha route, Iberia joined the world’s largest airline joint business agreement, created by Qatar Airways and British Airways, which covers more than 60 countries and allows customers to connect to over 200 destinations in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Iberia and Qatar Airways jointly offer up to four daily frequencies between Madrid and Doha, significantly improving connectivity between the Spain and major markets in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The agreement with China Southern adds to this strategy and strengthens Iberia’s proposition as a key player in intercontinental connectivity, consolidating Madrid as one of the world’s leading hubs and reinforcing Iberia’s role as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
From Madrid, customers wishing to continue their journey with Iberia can connect to 18 destinations in 16 Latin American countries, 10 direct destinations in the United States, and 46 destinations within Spain, making the Spanish capital a unique platform for travel across three continents.
Flight Plan 2030: Global Connectivity as a Strategic Goal
Strengthening intercontinental connectivity is one of the pillars of Iberia’s Flight Plan 2030, the strategic roadmap for the next decade. This plan includes a €6 billion investment to renew and expand the long-haul fleet—from 48 to 70 aircraft—digitalize services, improve the customer experience, and consolidate connectivity between Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
As part of this strategy, Iberia has recently launched new long-haul routes such as Orlando, Recife, and Fortaleza, and in 2026 will add destinations like Monterrey and Toronto, expanding its reach in strategic markets. The agreement with China Southern fits into this vision and reinforces Iberia’s role as a key player in global connectivity, positioning Madrid as one of the leading intercontinental hubs.
