Iberia Maintenance has just added to its capabilities list the maintenance of the wheels and brakes of the A321XLR, an aircraft that Iberia incorporated into its fleet in November 2024, being the world-launching airline of this new model. These new capabilities are added to the more than 4,400 that the Spanish company already has in the aeronautical maintenance components department, covering different technologies within the workshops for tyres, hydraulics, Nacelles, IDGs, electricity, salvage and engine accessories.
Iberia Maintenance’s components workshop has thus become one of the few workshops in the world to be qualified to certify the maintenance of the wheels and brakes of this modern narrow-body, single-aisle aircraft, capable of reaching a distance of 7,500 kilometres. This makes the Spanish airlines a world leader in the aeronautical maintenance sector and allows it to offer a complete service to the operators of this aircraft.
“These achievements reinforce our vision for the future of Iberia Maintenance, where we are making great strides towards the modernisation and sustainable development of the MRO business, while reaffirming our commitment to remain the centre of reference in aeronautical maintenance in Southern Europe”, explains Jose Maria Merino, Senior Manager of Components at Iberia Maintenance.
In total, Iberia Maintenance’s components workshop covers an area of 20,000m² and has more than ten production lines specialising in the repair and overhaul of aeronautical components and accessories, mainly for Airbus fleets. To offer all these services, Iberia Maintenance has invested more than 10 million euros of inventory dedicated to high rotation elements, such as wheels, brakes and batteries, to guarantee the continuous operation of the main airlines in Southern Europe. In 2024, the Spanish company will certify more than 29,000 components in La Muñoza, Madrid, where its maintenance facilities are located.
The training centre also focused on the XLR
Iberia Maintenance, through its Training Centre, following a train-the-trainer process with the manufacturer Airbus, has developed a training course on the differences between the A321 NEO and the new A321 XLR. This course, which focused on innovations designed to extend the range of the aircraft, not only met its technical objective, but has already received external demand from the industry. Although the A321XLR has the same type rating as the A321 LEAP, it incorporates numerous new features in various systems such that the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) has included this training as mandatory due to its high added value. British Airways MRO has already conducted this course to train its technical teams.
The A321XLR not only incorporates new features related to the fuel system from which it derives its long range, but also in the flight control system, such as incorporating the electronic tail rudder for the first time in the A320 family, or the laminated fibre-metal structure (fibreglass-aluminium).
This course not only reinforces the technical capacity of the company and group to serve long-range fleets, but also highlights Iberia Maintenance’s commitment to innovation and leadership.
