Iberia Group is expanding its activities in the UK market with the introduction of a new route from its Madrid-based low-cost business, Iberia Express linking the Spanish capital city with Birmingham. The new service will commence from March 28, 2016 and will be operated on a four times weekly schedule using a 180-seat Airbus A320 with both Business and Economy offerings.

Alongside supporting the point-to-point local flows on the city pair, the route will also offer connections with another 34 destinations in Spain, Portugal, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America via Iberia’s mainline network. These include Alicante, Bilbao, Gran Canaria, Jerez, Malaga, Majorca and Tenerife in Spain; Lisbon and Oporto in Portugal; Luanda, Malabo, Lagos and Dakar in Africa; Tel Aviv; and Buenos Aires, Havana, Mexico City, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile, and São Paulo in Latin America.

“This new route strengthens our capacity in the United Kingdom, the country where we offer the largest number of flights and from which we bring many tourists to Spain. Our flights will expand connection options for people in Birmingham, Britain’s second-largest city, and the West Midlands, where the Iberia Group will be operating for the first time,” Silvia Mosquera, commercial director, Iberia Express.

Madrid is developing as a major destination for business travellers and tourists alike. Famous for its art museums as well as its football teams, Madrid is also a shopper’s paradise, boasting both name-brand shops and independent establishments offering the highest quality for affordable prices. Another attraction is the variety and quality of the city’s many restaurants.

Speaking to Routesonline at World Routes in Durban, South Africa, Paul Kehoe, chief executive officer, Birmingham Airport, highlighted that the enhanced transfer potential this route will offer will significantly enhance connectivity opportunities.

“The West Midlands is a thriving business region which needs greater global connectivity to grow trade and open up new business opportunities. Iberia can offer this through its strong network from Madrid to many of the world’s emerging markets,” he said

"This news is perfectly timed for the 2015 World Routes conference, and follows recent announcements to Poznan with Wizz Air and Alicante with Vueling last week. This is our eighth new airline to choose Birmingham this year and with our passenger numbers breaking the 10 million passenger mark in August, we hope that further airlines that we're meeting at this year's conference will take an interest in serving Birmingham, thanks to our multi-million pound investment and excellent location," he added.

The Iberia Group currently operates 180 flights per week from London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports, and also from Edinburgh and Manchester to Madrid, Gran Canaria, Mallorca, Tenerife and Vigo.