Iberia last week announced its inaugural nonstop service between Toronto and Madrid, solidifying the role of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport as a major transatlantic hub.
The airline will fly five times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – using the Airbus A321XLR and will make more than 37,000 seats available in the market during the summer season.
The Toronto launch is part of Iberia’s Flight Plan 2030, the company’s long-term roadmap for growth in an industry grappling with fuel-price volatility and geopolitical uncertainty.
Under this strategy, Iberia is investing approximately 6 billion euros in renewing and expanding its fleet, increasing its long-haul aircraft from 51 to 70, digitalizing services, improving the customer experience and opening new intercontinental routes.
“Iberia’s arrival in Toronto marks an important milestone in our international growth and solidifies Madrid as one of the world’s leading hubs between Europe and the Americas,” said Juan Circo, corporate director of Iberia.
“This connection broadens travel options and helps strengthen economic, trade and tourism ties linking Canada, Spain and Europe as a whole.”
The new service is supported by Madrid Turismo supported by IFEMA Madrid, an initiative of the regional government of Madrid and the Madrid City Council to promote the capital as a gateway between Europe and the Americas.
Luis Martín, Vice-Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Madrid Regional Government, said that the region has become one of the most competitive destinations in Europe, combining culture, sports, gastronomy, leisure and shopping as well as distinctive visitor experiences.
He said exploring areas beyond the city center gives travelers a broader understanding of what the Madrid region has to offer.
For Madrid City Council, Canada – and Toronto in particular – has become a priority source market.
Councilor for Tourism Almudena Maiello pointed out that Canadian arrivals to Madrid are expected to increase by 9.5 per cent in 2026, one of the strongest growth rates among its long-haul markets, and said Torontonians can now fly direct to a city that combines world-class cultural heritage with a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.
From Madrid, Iberia and the wider Iberia Group offer connections to more than 60 cities across Europe and 46 destinations within Spain, underscoring the airport’s position as one of the main entry points to the continent.
The airline’s integrated Train & Fly and Bus & Fly products allow customers to combine flights with rail and coach journeys on a single ticket, currently providing access to 14 additional destinations beyond the air network.
Passengers connecting through Madrid can opt for Iberia’s Stopover Hola Madrid program, which lets them stay up to nine nights in the city without paying any additional airfare.
Participants receive a complimentary two-day public transport tourist pass and access to numerous offers on hotels, cultural attractions, entertainment and shopping.
In 2025, nearly 40,000 travelers used the program, a 38 percent increase on the previous year, highlighting the growing appetite among international travelers to include Madrid as a standalone stop on trips to other parts of Europe and Spain.
In 2026, the airline plans to offer more than 2.2 million seats and 170 weekly flights between Spain, the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, representing a nearly 13 percent increase in seat-capacity compared to the previous year.
