Direct flights are the best flights.
Shaving up to two hours in each direction, Iberia is poised to launch a new direct option from Europe to the West Coast of America. This is an exciting move which adds further connectivity tor travelers throughout the European continent, hoping to visit the delights of San Francisco.
What
From April 26th to September 28th Iberia will operate the only non stop flight between Madrid and San Francisco. The flight will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 offering Iberia’s newest economy, premium and business class cabins, clocking between 11-13 hours of estimated flight time. Flight 6175 from Madrid to San Francisco will depart 12:30PM with a local arrival time of 4:30PM PST. The return flight 6174 from San Francisco to Madrid flight will depart 6:00PM with an arrival time of 2:20PM CEST. This is an exciting move for travelers in the Iberian peninsula which now gain direct access to northern California. Flight schedules have also been optimized, allowing for seamless connections throughout Europe and the Middle East including Barcelona, Bilbao, Rome, Milan, Tel Aviv and Vienna.
Why
Iberia is being challenged throughout Spain by low cost competition, primarily Norwegian Airlines. Norwegian has launched direct service from Barcelona to Los Angeles bringing the fight onto Iberia’s home turf. This is a positive move from Iberia which matches convenience, with the added benefit of a legacy airline experience. With the tech boom, demand for travel to San Francisco and nearby Silicon Valley is at a record high.
Future
Iberia is expecting delivery of their first state of the art Airbus A350 aircraft this summer. The modern aircraft will open up new routes with increased fuel efficiency and improved passenger experience. With the seasonal addition of San Francisco, Iberia now serves six US gateways with additional direct services to Puerto Rico, a US territory. Direct routes will bring new options to travelers while improving the loyalty proposition for Iberia Avios holders. Iberia’s Avios program is one of the most lucrative frequent flyer offerings and with a new route with which to earn and redeem points – it’s stronger than ever. Congrats to Iberia on this new route.
