IAG-owned Iberia has introduced another transatlantic service operated by its Airbus A321XLR narrowbody aircraft. The Spanish airline has debuted its regular transatlantic flight to Latin America using the long-range single-aisle jet. The flight connected Madrid (MAD) with Santo Domingo (SDQ) in the Dominican Republic, marking the airline’s regular entry into the Latin American market with the long-range single-aisle jet.
It is worth noting that Iberia launched its flights to San Juan (SJU), Puerto Rico, two weeks before beginning regular service to Santo Domingo. While San Juan is located in the Caribbean and shares strong cultural and linguistic ties with Latin America, it is a US territory rather than part of Latin America in the traditional geopolitical sense.
New A321XLR Service: Madrid-Santo Domingo
Iberia’s Airbus A321XLR transatlantic flight to the Dominican Republic took place on October 2, 2025. The flight departed from Madrid–Barajas International Airport (MAD) and landed at Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), the capital of the Dominican Republic. The route is slated to be served by the A321XLR only until October 23, 2025. Iberia has served Santo Domingo for a long time. Until now, it has always been aboard widebodies, primarily the Airbus A330.
The journey lasted seven hours and 44 minutes and was operated by the carrier’s A321XLR, registered as EC-OLE, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24.com. The route spans 3,617 nautical miles (6,698 km), becoming the carrier’s longest route on the new variant by distance. It is worth noting that Iberia has a total of four Airbus A321XLRs in its fleet, with an average age of 0.6 years, according to ch-aviation data. Looking ahead, the carrier is awaiting four additional airframes to be delivered.
Iberia’s Airbus A321XLR aircraft are configured to accommodate 182 passengers in a two-class layout: 14 in business class and 168 in economy. The Spanish carrier was the world’s first operator of the A321XLR, launching commercial service on the Madrid–Paris route in November 2024. Shortly after, Iberia operated its first long-haul flight with the type from its Madrid hub to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in the United States.
Two-Weekly Flights
The oneworld airline plans to operate the Madrid–Santo Domingo route on its A321XLRs twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. The 182-seat Airbus A321XLR will complement the larger 292-seat A330-300 daily operations.
This change may reflect lower travel demand during October, which falls in the shoulder season, or it could be due to scheduled maintenance on the A330 fleet. Despite the A321XLR’s lower cruising speed, the total block time for the flight has increased by only five minutes.
According to Iberia’s June 2025 investor relations document, the carrier stated that the maximum real-world range of its XLRs, based on its weight given its configuration, is 3,920 nautical miles (7,960 km). This is well below the 4,700 nautical miles (8,704 km) range advertised by Airbus. Of course, manufacturers typically quote brochures or theoretical ranges that don’t reflect real-world performance. These figures assume ideal conditions, a brand-new aircraft, minimal weight, optimal configuration, and no headwinds.
Iberia’s Upcoming A321XLR Latin American Destinations
In addition to Santo Domingo, the Spanish carrier has recently launched A321XLR operations to San Juan, Puerto Rico. It will also begin service to Recife, Brazil, and Fortaleza, Brazil, during the winter 2025 season. On September 13, 2025, the oneworld airline introduced the A321XLR on the Madrid–San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) route, complementing the existing A330 service. The Madrid–San Juan route is the carrier’s second-longest operated by the A321XLR, spanning 3,448 nautical miles.
Starting December 13, 2025, Iberia’s A321XLR will also be deployed on the Madrid–Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) route. The last time Iberia served Recife was in 2011, using the Airbus A340 quadjet. The airline plans to operate three to four weekly A321XLR flights.
Additionally, beginning January 19, 2026, Iberia will launch A321XLR service between Madrid and Fortaleza–Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR). The airline last served Fortaleza in 2011, also with the Airbus A340 four-engine widebody. Iberia plans three to four weekly flights on this route as well.