Iberia marked the 70th year of its aerial connection to New York on 3 August 1954 by initiating a memorable journey aboard the Santa Maria, one of its three Super Constellations. The inaugural voyage from Madrid to New York, challenged by weather delays, took 15 hours, although typical flight durations ranged from nine to ten hours. Commencing with a seating arrangement for 19 first-class and 55 economy passengers, the venture began regular operations five days after the maiden flight.

In a nostalgic nod to this milestone, Andrés Iwasaki, a veteran cabin crew member for Iberia’s long-haul flights, treated passengers aboard flight IB6251 on 3 August 2024 to a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” celebrating the occasion with a special performance.

Initially, this historic route operated thrice weekly with ticket prices set at $436 for first-class and $334 for economy. Fast forward to today, Iberia has increased its frequency to two daily flights, offering fares as low as 234 euros for economy and 1486 euros for business class for round-trip purchases.

The route’s success is evidenced by its passenger growth, from nearly 2,000 in its first few months to over 7,300 the following year, culminating in more than 2.2 million travelers by 1979.

The introduction of the Super Constellations in 1952 revolutionized Iberia’s transatlantic service, enhancing speed, range, and passenger comfort by allowing flights at higher altitudes to circumvent poor weather. Named after Christopher Columbus’s ships—Santa Maria, Niña, and Pinta—these aircraft significantly contributed to the expansion of international routes to destinations like Havana and Buenos Aires.

Today’s operations feature the Airbus 350-900, renowned for its quiet operation and fuel efficiency, 30 to 35 percent superior to previous models. This aircraft accommodates 348 passengers across business, premium economy, and economy classes and is a staple on the twice-daily Madrid-New York route. Furthermore, Iberia now connects to seven additional U.S. cities, offering a total of 1.7 million seats annually and maintaining 130 weekly flights across the Atlantic, showcasing the enduring strength and growth of this historic route.

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