Iberia has inaugurated its Airbus A321XLR service between Madrid and Washington D.C., marking a strategic milestone both for the airline and for transatlantic aviation. The inaugural flight departed Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport on April 12, 2025, and arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, introducing the world’s longest scheduled A321XLR route by duration, with a flight time of up to 9 hours and 40 minutes.
The Spanish carrier is the global launch airline for the A321XLR on transatlantic routes, leveraging the aircraft’s extended range and efficiency to expand its North American network. The service will operate six times weekly from April through August, increasing to daily flights in September and October, and for the first time, will be maintained year-round. This expansion reflects growing demand and Iberia’s broader strategy to boost its US operations, with the airline planning 140 weekly flights between Spain and the United States during the summer 2025 season, a 14% increase over the previous year.
Configured with 182 seats, the A321XLR features 14 full-flat business class seats with direct aisle access and 168 economy seats. Passengers benefit from 4K individual screens, Bluetooth audio, USB-A and USB-C charging, complimentary WiFi messaging, and enhanced overhead storage. The aircraft’s modern galleys and touchless lavatories are designed to improve hygiene and passenger comfort on long-haul journeys.
Washington D.C. becomes Iberia’s second long-haul US destination served by the A321XLR, following Boston, where frequencies have also been increased. The deployment of the A321XLR enables Iberia to serve long-haul markets with variable demand more efficiently, offering widebody-level comfort in a single-aisle format while optimizing operational costs.
