Eighteen Years Putting Wings on Children’s Dreams

In Iberia we fly to unite people, to connect stories and cultures, to engender emotions, and, sometimes, to make dreams come true! Back in 2001 we began our collaboration with Make-A-Wish-Spain to brighten the lives of critically ill children by giving them unforgettable experiences. Since then, as the foundation’s official airline, we have helped grant the wishes of more than 280 children, helping them overcome their feelings of fear, anxiety, and loneliness, and to replace them with vitality, energy, and a renewed fighting spirit.

Biel was just three when the doctor treating him decided its a perfect time to meet his friend Sponge Bob. So Biel, his mother Arminda, and  sister Madeley flew from Barcelona to Madrid, and Biel visited the park where his wish came true.

At eight years old Leire had waited for more than a year for her wish to come true. Her wish was “to visit Disneyland in Paris to meet my friends Mickey and Minnie Mouse.” At last she and her family flew to Paris for the long-awaited encounter.

Julia had always wanted to visit New York with her mother, and to forget about her illness while in the Big Apple. She finally made it, and took selfies at every emblematic site in the throbbing city. Now she knows she can achieve anything she sets her mind to.

Mario is fascinated by all superheroes, but his favourite character of all is Captain Jake of the Neverland Pirates. Mario knew that there was a ship in Disneyland in which you could could sail like a pirate, and so he did, becoming his hero Pirate Jake for a few days.

To travel to the magic kingdom, to visit Father Christmas, to swim with dolphins, to meet the actors in a favourite TV series, to attend grandma’s 80th birthday party in far-off Argentina, or to learn everything about Iberia airplanes –these are a tiny sample of the children’s wishes Iberia employees were privileged to help realise, and that are now a part of our own history.

Fernando, a volunteer at Make-A-Wish-Spain for the past 13 years, says that “one of the nicest bits for the kids is the day they travel to the airport to fly to the place where their wish will come true. Their happiness is total! They’re nervous and excited about the flight, and when they reach the  check-in counter Iberia staff are already waiting for them, to greet them by name and remind them of their destination –that’s when the first big smiles appear. When they reach the airplane the entire crew is there to welcome them and make them feel important! They know they’re experiencing something magical, and Iberia’s loving red-carpet treatment gets them off to the best possible start!”

April 29 has been officially designated World Wish Day, to mark the anniversary of the first wish granted by Make-A-Wish in 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona. That why today we’re sharing this video which tells the stories of some wishes that came true.