Iberia

Iberia launches South America’s first A321XLR flights to Recife, Brazil

Iberia will begin its second Brazilian Airbus A321XLR route in January 2026.

Photo: Iberia

Iberia has inaugurated another Airbus A321XLR route, with the Spanish airline connecting Madrid, Spain, with Recife, Brazil. The Brazilian city became the airline’s fifth destination to be served with the long-range narrowbody aircraft, and South America's first airport to welcome the A321XLR on a scheduled commercial flight.

On December 13, 2025, Iberia launched its latest A321XLR itinerary, with the first flight from Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) to Recife Airport (REC) taking off from the Spanish capital at 12:11 local time (UTC +1). The A321XLR, registered as EC-OIL, arrived at REC at 16:06 local time (UTC -3), per Flightradar24.

The Spanish airline confirmed that the flight was full, with all 182 seats being occupied by passengers flying the almost eight-hour itinerary across the Atlantic Ocean.

Antonio Linares, the Sales Director for Spain, Portugal, and North Africa at Iberia, said that the newest route was another milestone in the Spanish carrier’s history in Brazil, reflecting a clear commitment it has made to the country by diversifying its portfolio of destinations beyond São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

According to Iberia, Recife, known as Brazil’s Venice, “boasts a rich historical and architectural heritage, and its carnival is considered one of the most fun and largest in Brazil,” with the city also being a “paradise” for divers.

Interestingly, Iberia highlighted that its cabin configuration enables its A321XLRs to have a range of up to 7,500 kilometers (4,049 nautical miles), quite a few hundred kilometers short of Airbus’ advertised range of 8,700 km (4,700 NM).

The Spanish airline has 182 seats on its long-range narrowbodies, including 14 business class suites, two bathrooms, and two galleys.

Iberia announced its thrice-weekly flights to REC on March 25, together with new itineraries from MAD to Fortaleza Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). The former is another A321XLR destination that the airline will be launching flights to on January 19, 2026, while the latter has been operated with an A330-300 since the route’s inaugural departure on October 26.

At the time, María Jesús López Solás, the Chief Commercial, Network Development and Alliances Officer at Iberia, highlighted Brazil’s “great potential,” especially beyond the main cities to which the Spanish already operate flights to.

“With the addition of the new A321XLRs, we can explore new routes across the Atlantic, gauge their acceptance, and gradually adapt our offerings to meet demand.”

Cirium’s Diio Mi showed that in December, Iberia has scheduled its A321XLR aircraft to fly to four other destinations on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

On March 29, 2026, it will begin daily A321XLR flights between MAD and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), shifting its metal between the two airports it serves in the New York area. The current daily MAD-JFK will become a double-daily A330 and A350-900 flight, with the A321XLR moving to serve the third daily MAD to New York flight at EWR.

Currently, Iberia has six A321XLRs and two more aircraft of the type on order. With the delivery of the remaining two, the Spanish airline would have no more outstanding A321XLR orders.

One of its A321XLRs, registered as EC-OOJ, has been parked at MAD following a bird strike incident in August.