Iberia is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its flights between Madrid and London, one of the most important routes in its network in terms of capacity and frequencies, connecting the two European capitals with more than 20 daily flights.
The connection between the two cities began in 1946, when Iberia launched its first flights between Madrid and London, operated from Croydon Airport with two weekly frequencies using DC-3 aircraft with capacity for 21 passengers. London thus became the airline’s second international destination after Lisbon.
Eight decades later, this route has consolidated its position as one of Iberia’s most important markets, both in terms of passenger volume and number of frequencies.
To mark the occasion, Heathrow Airport hosted an event attended by representatives from Iberia, as well as the Ambassador of Spain to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Emma Aparici, and the airport’s Chief Commercial Officer, Javier Echave.
“The Madrid–London route represents far more than an air connection between two European capitals. Over the past 80 years, Iberia has helped strengthen the economic, social and cultural ties between Spain and the United Kingdom by facilitating business travel, tourism and talent exchange between both countries. Our commitment is to continue reinforcing this connectivity in the years ahead,” said Celia Muñoz Espín, Commercial Strategy, Distribution and Alliances Director at Iberia.
More than 1.1 million seats between the two capitals
Today, together with Iberia Express and British Airways, the airline offers more than 20 daily flights between Madrid and London, creating a true air bridge between the two capitals. Iberia operates up to eight daily flights in each direction between Madrid and Heathrow Airport, complemented by two daily Iberia Express frequencies to Gatwick. This offering is further enhanced by British Airways’ operations to Heathrow and London City Airport.
In total, in 2026, Iberia is offering its customers more than 1.1 million seats per year on this route, operated with Airbus A320 family aircraft.
This growth reflects not only the sustained increase in demand, but also the strength of the collaboration between Iberia and British Airways as part of International Airlines Group, enabling a more integrated and efficient network between both markets. In this context, the complementarity between the Madrid and London hubs is key, with Heathrow serving as a gateway to North America and Asia through British Airways, and Madrid acting as the leading hub for Latin America through Iberia.
A driver of economic and social connectivity
The Madrid–London route not only connects two cities, but also serves as a strategic axis for economic and social relations between Spain and the United Kingdom.
In addition, ties between both societies are especially close. Nearly 200,000 Spaniards reside in the United Kingdom, while more than 400,000 British citizens live in Spain, forming a community that acts as a bridge between the two countries.
Thanks to this connectivity, Iberia helps facilitate business travel, tourism, investment and talent exchange.
