Did You Know: Iberia Used To Fly The Boeing 747

Today we will look at Spanish national flag carrier Iberia and its former Boeing 747 jumbo jets fleet. In the late 1960s, Iberia was flying long-haul using Douglas DC-8 aircraft. The Spanish airline wanted to grow its presence and increase capacity in Latin America and saw the 300-plus-seat Boeing 747-100 as the ideal aircraft to help them accomplish its goals.

Boeing 747-100s

EC-BRO

Iberia took delivery of its first Boeing 747-100 on October 22, 1970, naming the aircraft Cervantes after famous Spanish writer and the man who wrote Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes. Registered as EC-BRO, Iberia operated the plane for ten years and then sold it to Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1980.

EC-BRP

Iberias’ second Boeing 747-100, named after Spanish playwright Lope de Vega arrived in November 1970. Registered as EC-BRP, Iberia flew the plane for just over ten years before selling it to Trans World Airlines (TWA) in February 1981.

EC-DXE

First delivered to Air Canada in March 1971, Iberia acquired EC-DXE in May 1985 and operated the aircraft for ten years before selling it to Irish aircraft leasing company Guinness Peat Aviation in November 1985.

TF-ABW

First delivered to Air France in February 1972, TF-ABW did not arrive at Iberia until May 1998. The aircraft is now listed as having been scrapped.

Boeing 747-200

EC-DIA

Boeing 747-200, Tirso de Molina, with the registration EC-DIA was delivered new to Iberia in May 1980. The aircraft is listed as having been scrapped in 2009.

EC-DIB

Named Cervantes, like Iberias’ first Boeing 747 EC-DIB was delivered new to the airline in 1980 and scrapped in 2005.

EC-DNP

Named Juan Ramon Jimenez, the aircraft was delivered new to Iberia in February 1982. The plane went into storage in 2004 and was scrapped in 2008.

EC-EEK

Named Garcia Lorca, the aircraft was delivered new to Iberia in April 1988 as a Boeing 747-200M. The plane served with Iberia for 13 years before being sold to the United Parcel Service (UPS).

EC-GAG

Named Calderon de la Barca after Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca, EC-GAG was delivered new to Iberia in January 1972. During the summer of 1988, the aircraft was leased to Corse Air International. The plane then returned to Iberia, which operated it until 1995. The aircraft is listed as having been scrapped.

EC-HVD

Named Francisco de Quevedo after Spanish Francisco Gómez de Quevedo Baroque era writer Francisco Gómez de Quevedo, EC-HVD was delivered to Iberia in February 1981. In February 2001, the plane was sold to Air Atlanta Icelandic and leased back to Ineria. The Spanish airline then flew the aircraft for four more years before it went into storage and was later scrapped in 2008.

EC-DLD

Also named after Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, EC-DLD was delivered new to Iberia in March 1981. Iberia flew the plane for 23 years before it was scrapped. The aircraft’s forward fuselage is on display at the National Museums of Science and Technology in La Coruna.

TF-ABA

The Boeing 747-267B aircraft was delivered to Cathay Pacific in June 1981 and acquired by Iberia in November 1988. Leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic, the plane then changed hands again, going to Virgin Atlantic in January 2001.

TF-ABI

The aircraft was delivered new to Japan Airlines in March 1974 and then went to Saudi Arabian Airlines in March 1996. Iberia then leased the plane from Air Atlanta Icelandic in 1997 and operated it for the summer season before returning it in October 1997. The aircraft is now listed as having been scrapped.

TF-ABP

The aircraft was delivered new to Cathay Pacific in December 1980 and then leased from its owner Air Atlanta Icelandic by Iberia from 1999 until 2001. The aircraft was scrapped at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) in 2005.

TF-ABY

The aircraft was delivered new to Japan Airlines in 1974 and bought by Air Atlanta Icelandic in 1997. Iberia operated the plane during the summer of 1998 before returning it to the Icelandic leasing company. The aircraft is listed as having been scrapped.

TF-ATC

The aircraft was delivered new to Cathay Pacific in July 1980 and acquired by Air Atlanta Icelandic in December 1999. Iberia leased the plane for May 2001. The plane was broken up at Cotswold Airport (GBA) in 2004.

Boeing 747-300

TF-ARS

TF-ARS was delivered new to Swissair in November 1983. Air Atlanta Icelandic bought the aircraft in March 2003 and leased it to Iberia for June and July 2004. The aircraft was scrapped in 2008 after one of its engines caught fire while landing in Dhaka.

TF-ATH

The aircraft was delivered new to Varig in August 1988 and bought by Air Atlanta Icelandic in April 2000. Iberia leased the plane from December 2000 until May 2003. The plane was broken up at the Roswell Air Center (ROW) in New Mexico in 2008.

TF-ATI

The aircraft was delivered new to Varig in May 1988 and acquired by Air Atlanta Icelandic in February 2000. Iberia later leased the plane from January 2001 until November 2005. The aircraft was later sent to Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) in 2010, where it was broken up.

TF-ATJ

The aircraft was delivered new to Varig in May 1988 and acquired by Air Atlanta Icelandic in January 2000. Iberia leased the plane from December 2000 until November 2005. The aircraft then went to Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (ARG) in Arizona, where it was scrapped in 2011.

Boeing 747-400

TF-AMA

The aircraft was delivered new to Singapore Airlines in July 1989 and acquired by Air Atlanta Icelandic in June 2004. Iberia leased the plane from July 2004 until July 2006. The aircraft was retired in 2015 and is now a restaurant at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta, Indonesia.

TF-AMB

The aircraft was delivered new to Singapore Airlines in December 1989. Air Atlanta Icelandic purchased the plane in June 2004 and leased it to Iberia from July 2004 until July 2006. The plane was later scrapped at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta, Indonesia.

• 

  Iberia

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  IB/IBE

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Madrid Barajas Airport

  Year Founded:

  1927

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  Airline Group:

  IAG

  CEO:

  Javier Sánchez-Prieto

  Country:

  Spain