Iberia has marked the first anniversary since resuming service on the Tokyo/Narita, Japan–Madrid route.
It operates three round trips per week via an eastbound routing, with a flight time of 16 hours from Tokyo/Narita and 14 hours from Madrid. The route is served by Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured with a total of 330 seats: 31 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy, and 293 in Economy Class.
As the only nonstop service connecting Japan and Spain, the route was opened on October 18, 2016. It was progressively increased in frequency, and daily operations had been announced for June 2020, but due to the impact of COVID-19, operations were suspended from March 2020. Service resumed on October 27, 2024, and it now operates three round trips per week year-round.
The economic impact amounts to around 100 million euros, creating approximately 1,900 jobs. The airline expects to offer 108,000 seats in 2026. According to a survey by the Spanish National Tourist Office (Turespaña), Spain ranks second among intended destinations for Japanese travelers. With the launch of the nonstop service, bookings from Japan increased by 10%.
In its inflight catering, the airline uses an average of 187 kilograms of Japanese rice per week and has used about 10 tons to date; soy sauce, Japanese tea, and Japanese-style light snacks are also provided. These offerings are tailored to Japanese preferences for authenticity and high quality, and pajamas and slippers are provided in Business Class.
Iberia’s Chief Commercial, Network and Alliances Officer, María Jesús López-Solás, commented, “This route is more than just an air link. It is a strategic initiative to strengthen the ties between two countries that are culturally and economically aligned. Iberia aims to promote high-quality tourism and to continually showcase Spain’s attractions in Japan. We also want to highlight Madrid’s potential as a gateway to Spain, Europe, and Latin America, connecting both sides of the world.”
■ Schedule IB282 Tokyo/Narita (11:45) – Madrid (19:45) / Mon, Fri, Sun IB281 Madrid (11:55) – Tokyo/Narita (10:55+1) / Thu, Sat, Sun
