Iberia is to become the first airline to fly non-stop between Europe and the Ecuadorian capital Quito from October.
The Spanish carrier will operate flights from Madrid to Quito three times per week from October 26. Iberia will also continue to run its existing Madrid-Quito-Guayaquil-Madrid service which runs four times per week.
The new direct Madrid-Quito flights will run on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with departures from Madrid at 12.35 for an 18.05 arrival in Quito. The return flight leaves Quito at 21.20 to arrive in the Spanish capital at 14.05 the next day.
The route will be served by Airbus A340-600s with 342 seats, which is the biggest aircraft currently operated by Iberia, and offers an extra 100 seats compared to aircraft currently on the route. Iberia's A340-600s are currently being fitted with the new Business Plus flatbed seats.
Meanwhile Iberia’s sister airline British Airways is to reduce flights from Heathrow to Johannesburg from March 3, 2014 from 17 weekly flights to 14.
This move has been made following BA’s decision to make Johannesburg its third scheduled destination for its new Airbus A380 superjumbos, which will begin flying on the route from February 12, 2014.
iberia.com
ba.com