Spanish flag carrier Iberia is celebrating the first anniversary of its direct flights between Madrid and Tokyo, which began on 27 October 2024 and became Iberia’s new longest route, with the Madrid-Tokyo flight lasting 14 hours and the return service lasting 16 hours on the Airbus A350. The flights have allowed Japanese tourists to more easily access Spain.
Spain and Japan, Better Connected
In 2026, Iberia will offer more than 108,000 places on flights between Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT). This will contribute around 100 million EUR (£87.4 million) to the GDP of both Spain and Japan and will generate around 1,900 jobs.
Iberia operates three weekly flights between Madrid and Tokyo using its Airbus A350 aircraft, accomodating 348 passengers across its Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. To appeal to Japanese travellers visiting Spain with Iberia, on-board amenities such as slippers and pyjamas are provided for comfort, and the new menu includes unlimited rice, soy sauce, Japanese green tea and a wide selection of Japanese snacks. Iberia loads 187 kilograms of Japanese rice on its aircraft every week.
Madrid has seen a 10% rise in bookings by Japanese tourists, and, according to Turespaña, Spain is the second most popular European destination for Japanese tourists, and the third most popular destination in the world.
María Jesús López Solás, Chief Commercial, Network, and Alliances Officer at Iberia, said the following regarding the anniversary of the Madrid-Tokyo route:
“This route is not just an air connection; it’s a strategic commitment to strengthening ties between two countries with cultural and economic affinities. At Iberia, we aim to continue promoting quality tourism and showcasing the best of Spain in Japan. We want to highlight Madrid’s potential as a gateway to Spain, the rest of Europe, and Latin America—connecting both sides of the world.”
Flight Schedule
Iberia operates three weekly services between the two cities, using the Airbus A350 and according to the following schedule. All times listed below are local:
- IB281: Madrid (11:55) — Tokyo (10:55+1), operating on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays;
- IB282: Tokyo (11:45) — Madrid (19:55), operating on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.
Passengers on the route fly over Alaska, Greenland and close to the North Pole as the flights always travel east.
Will you be flying between Madrid and Tokyo on Iberia in the near future? Share your thoughts in the comments.
