Iberia Airlines Names Airbus after La Habana

Spanish airline Iberia has named its latest Airbus A330-200 “La Habana”, to mark the 70th anniversary of its first flights to Latin America, the company reported on April 4

The aircraft, which will carry the name of the Cuban capital on its front – just under the pilot’s cabin – is the third of its kind acquired by the company, the first to fly to Latin America from Europe since World War II.

In the past year and a half, Iberia has placed orders for 29 long-haul aircraft, of which 13 are Airbus A330-200 aircraft, like the most recently acquired, due to be delivered in instalments through March 2018.

In order to renew and expand its long-haul fleet, the airline will also incorporate 16 state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which it will receive between 2018 and 2021, according to a press release.

Seven decades later, Iberia is the leading company in Latin America, with over 250 scheduled flights operating per week to 20 destinations in 15 countries of the region.
Havana was one of the first destinations in the continent to be offered by the airline, and its operations with Cuba began in 1949.

Following a stoppage of two years, in June 2015 Iberia resumed its flights to the country and, in the space of just 12 months, the company is due to increase its operations from five to seven weekly flights, the press release highlighted.

Beginning June 1, Spain’s flagship airline will offer daily connections to the Cuban capital.