Traveling from Madrid to Orlando without a stopover is now possible. Last Sunday, the airline Iberia inaugurated the first direct route between the Spanish capital and Orlando (Florida, United States), the city that is home to Walt Disney World, the world’s largest theme park.
The connection will have four weekly frequencies: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. According to Iberia, each of these days there will be a flight at 11:30 a.m. and another at 6:20 p.m., and more than 46,000 seats will be offered during the winter.
A commitment to the U.S. market
With this direct flight, Iberia is taking a new step in its growth strategy in the United States. This is how Iberia’s customer director, Beatriz Guillén, explained it during the inaugural flight last Sunday: “Orlando is much more than a tourist destination: it is an international pole of attraction for leisure, congresses and innovation, and we are proud to be the only airline that directly connects Spain with this city.”
The collaboration between Iberia and Disney “marks a before and after and an after in the experience of Spanish visitors traveling to Walt Disney World Resort,” said Disney Destinations’ general manager for Spain and Portugal, Tiago Santos.
In its commitment to the U.S. market, the airline adds a total of ten direct destinations to this country: New York, Miami, Boston, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, San Francisco and the recently added Orlando.
The first direct flight
Iberia arranged an inaugural flight last Sunday, departing at 11:30 a.m. from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and arriving in Orlando at 4:45 p.m. local time. The aircraft, an Airbus A330, carried 272 passengers on a Disney-themed flight.
Upon arrival at Madrid airport’s Terminal 4, customers were greeted by a large Walt Disney World archway welcoming them to their trip. In addition, an entertainment kit aimed at children was placed on the seats of the plane itself, with the famous black ears and red bow of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, respectively.
Orlando: a Disney and business destination
Orlando is a strategic destination for both entertainment and business. Walt Disney World is the world’s largest theme park with four major parks, two water parks, more than 25 hotels and the ESPN sports complex.
On the business side, Orlando is home to the Orange County Convention Center, one of the largest venues in the United States for international conferences, meetings, conferences and events.
Finally, the coastal area of Cape Canaveral attracts many tourists interested in visiting the Kennedy Space Center or taking a cruise to the Caribbean.