. It began operations with a Madrid-Barcelona service

 

Eighty years ago, on June 28, 1927 : Spain's first airline was legally constituted under the name Iberia Compania Aérea de Transportes. The man behind it, and who supplied most of the capital, was the Basque businessman Horacio Echevarrieta, although Germany's Lufthansa put up 24%.

 

In the early 1940s the Spanish airline began regular flights to London, Paris and Rome.

 

In 1946, after World War II, Iberia became the first airline to fly between Europe and South america, with a route linking Madrid with Buenos Aire. The maiden flight took off in a 44-seat DC-4.

 

In another first on that 36-hour flight to Argentina, Iberia introduced female cabin attendants , called azafatas.

 

In 1991 the Spanish airline launched Iberia Plus, Europe's first frequent flyers programme, which now has more than three million members.

 

The following year, 1992, was the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. A world's fair was celebrated in Seville, the Olympic Games were held in Barcelona, and Madrid was designated that yar's Cultural Capital of Euroe. Iberia was a sponsor of these events as well as official airline.

 

In 1996 Iberia became on of the firs airlines to launch ineractive web site, www.iberia.com. In 2006, more than 450 million euros and more than 350,000 daily visits.

 

In the past decade Iberia has replaced most of its fleet, archieved steady growth and concentrated on its strategic markets -chiefly Spain, Europe and Latin America where Iberia is undisputed market leader.

 

Iberia's privatisation and stock market listing in 2001 returned Spain's flag-carrier to the private sector from which it had come.

 

Iberia today flies to 104 cities in 41 countries, plus another 84 cities under code shares with other carriers.

 

In Iberia's first 80 years, the spanish airline has carried nearly 700 million passengers. What was a luxury for a few and only a dream for most people in the 1920s is now dream come true.

 

Source : Iberia Press Release

 

 

 

IBERIA IN FIGURES

 

Fleet (*): 220

 

aircraft Destinations(*): 104 destinations in 41 countries

 

Average no. daily flights (*): 1,000 Seats

 

Supplied Daily (*): 123,000

 

Passengers carried 2006(*): 33 million

 

Freight carried 2006: 242,713 tonnes

 

Staff (December 31, 2006): 25,029

 

*Including franchise partner Iberia Regional Air Nostrum.

Fleet (*): 220 aircraft Destinations(*): 104 destinations in 41 countries Average no. daily flights (*): 1,000 Seats Supplied Daily (*): 123,000 Passengers carried 2006(*): 33 million Freight carried 2006: 242,713 tonnes Staff (December 31, 2006): 25,029 *Including franchise partner Iberia Regional Air Nostrum.

 

Fleet (*): 220 aircraft Destinations(*): 104 destinations in 41 countries Average no. daily flights (*): 1,000 Seats Supplied Daily (*): 123,000 Passengers carried 2006(*): 33 million Freight carried 2006: 242,713 tonnes Staff (December 31, 2006): 25,029 *Including franchise partner Iberia Regional Air Nostrum.

 

Retour sur Washington DC en prenant l'avenue bordée de toutes les Ambassades du monde chacune dans des bâtiments de style et de taille différents. Ensuite nous glissons vers le quartier résidentiel de Georgetown avec tous ses petits commerces à l'ancienne pour les USA mais encore, et heureusement, si habituels chez nous .

 

Bonne promenade et à bientôt ?

 

 Josée