Iberia A321XLR: Madrid–San Juan Transatlantic

Iberia is launching a long-range A321XLR nonstop between Madrid (MAD) and San Juan (SJU) starting September 13, 2025.

Iberia A321XLR service will begin on September 13, 2025, linking Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD) and Luis Muñoz Marín International (SJU) in Puerto Rico with a scheduled block time of 9 hours and 5 minutes over roughly 3,448 nautical miles. The A321XLR (Extra Long Range variant of the Airbus A321neo) lets carriers target thin transatlantic markets without a widebody.

Iberia A321XLR: long narrowbody hops

The move highlights how airlines are using single-aisle jets for longer point-to-point routes. Iberia’s new Madrid–San Juan run will be among the world’s longest narrowbody services when it starts, showing the A321XLR’s ability to cover long overwater sectors that once required larger jets.

For travelers, that means more nonstop options between Europe and the Caribbean at potentially lower operating costs than a widebody route. For Iberia, the route offers network flexibility: straight links from Madrid to markets with steady leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) demand but not enough traffic for larger widebody aircraft.

Iberia A321XLR will fly MAD–SJU nonstop from September 13, 2025 — 9h05 block time, ~3,448 nm.
Aircraft type: Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range)
Operator: Iberia; airports: MAD (Madrid), SJU (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Operationally, A321XLR missions of this length require careful fuel and payload planning, and operators typically select these routes where demand is consistent but not large enough for twin-aisle aircraft. The result is more nonstop choices for passengers and potentially lower per-seat costs for airlines on long thin routes.

Expect Iberia to market the service for leisure travel and ties between Spain and Puerto Rico, especially during peak holiday seasons. Seat configurations, exact frequencies and flight numbers were not provided in the announcement; passengers should check Iberia’s official schedule or contact the airline for booking details closer to the September launch.