Iberia To Bolster Heavy Maintenance In Barcelona

Iberia Maintenance has operated from its existing Barcelona hangar since 2010.
Credit: Iberia Maintenance

The maintenance unit of Iberia Airlines has confirmed plans to further develop its heavy maintenance capabilities at its Barcelona hangar.

Iberia Maintenance says the site, located at the city’s El Prat Airport, plans to expand on its existing C check maintenance offerings by expanding to full base maintenance services for both in-house and third-party customer work.

In a statement released Friday (June 11), the company said: “Iberia reinforces its presence in El Prat with the development of an activity capable of generating highly qualified employment, contributing to a greater reindustrialization of the airport's area of influence and, in short, consolidating Barcelona airport as a major aeronautical hub.”

Initially, the hangar will focus on Airbus A320 aircraft. Iberia plans to utilize around 300 staff in Barcelona to service the aircraft and says there is capacity of more than 300,000 man-hr. per year for this type of overhaul.

Low-cost carrier Vueling, a sister airline of Iberia in the IAG Group, will also be involved as the first company in the airline group to carry out this type of work in the Barcelona hangar. The airline is headquartered in Barcelona and operates an all-A320 family fleet of more than 100 aircraft.

Existing line maintenance services on Iberia’s short and medium-haul aircraft fleet, along with widebody aircraft for third-party customers, will continue to take place at El Prat.

Iberia has operated in the hangar since it was built in 2010. It can accommodate up to four narrowbody aircraft simultaneously. The Spanish MRO conducts its engine maintenance operations in Madrid.

James Pozzi

As Aviation Week's MRO Editor EMEA, James Pozzi covers the latest industry news from the European region and beyond. He also writes in-depth features on the commercial aftermarket for Inside MRO.