Pending approval by the Chinese government, Iberia will launch its new route to Shanghai on 28 June, several months earlier than initially planned, with three direct return flights per week.
The airline today began accepting reservations for Shanghai flights, starting at 499 euros return when departing from Madrid or Barcelona. To avail themselves of this promotional fare, customers must book before 6 May and fly between 28 June and 30 November.
The earlier launch date will enable Iberia to compete for summer holiday traffic between the two countries and to promote Shanghai as Iberia’s newest destination, and its first in Asia, to be followed by Tokyo on 18 October.
Flights to Shanghai will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and flights from Shanghai to Madrid will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
In addition to the new Shanghai and Tokyo services, this summer Iberia is resuming flights to Puerto Rico on 15 May and to Johannesburg on 1 August, with three weekly flights to both destinations. Flights to Boston, previously offered from March to October, will operate through December this year.
Meanwhile, Iberia has temporarily suspended services to Istanbul owing to the steep decline in demand, and it plans to suspend flights to Nigeria on 12 May and to Ghana on 17 May for the drop of demand and lack of profitability.
For the new Shanghai flight Iberia will use its newest aircraft, the wide-bodied, twin-engine A330-200, equipped with newly designed passenger cabins that seat 19 people in Business and 269 in Economy. All passengers have access to an advanced à la carte entertainment system and the fastest Wi-Fi transoceanic connection available today. Business seats unfold into 2-meter-long beds, all with direct access to the aisle.
Madrid-Shanghai-Madrid (as of 28 June)
| Flight number | Route | Departs | Arrives | Days | Aircraft type |
| IB6889 | Madrid-Shanghai | 12:50 | 07:10 (+1) | Tuesday, Friday and Sunday | A330-200 |
| IB6888 | Shanghai-Madrid | 11:00 | 18:40 | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday | A330-200 |
Madrid-Shanghai-Madrid (as of 30 October)
| Flight number | Route | Departs | Arrives | Days | Aircraft type |
| IB6889 | Madrid-Shanghai | 11:50 | 07:10 (+1) | Tuesday, Friday and Sunday | A330-200 |
| IB6888 | Shanghai-Madrid | 11:00 | 17:55 | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday | A330-200 |
