Iberia has announced an expansion of overhead storage capacity for its A320 family fleet. The Spanish airline is set to increase the storage capacity for small carry-on bags and hand luggage by 60% with the introduction of Airspace L compartments.
The new cabin equipment is compatible with Airspace XL compartments used in Iberia’s wide-body fleet. Opting for Airspace L not only enhances passenger experience but also reduces maintenance costs by sharing components with the XL series. Moreover, the optimized plug-and-play replacement of in-service cabins, which can be completed in as little as three to five days, will minimize aircraft downtime.
Alberto García, Iberia’s Fleet Planning Director, expressed, “We are proud to announce this partnership with Airbus, one of our key partners. Thanks to the new L-Bins, we will significantly improve our customers’ experience by increasing hand luggage capacity in our A320neo fleet by 60%.”
“Furthermore, this enhancement translates into faster boarding and disembarkation, helping us meet our stringent punctuality goals and provide excellent customer service,” he added.
Charbel Youzkatli, Airbus’ Director of Commercial Services for Europe, stated, “The L-Bins represent a qualitative leap that enhances the passenger experience and streamlines cabin crew workflow. We are delighted that the L-Bins are part of Iberia’s unwavering pursuit of excellence and punctuality.”
The retrofit work will be carried out at Iberia Maintenance facilities at Madrid Airport. Iberia’s heavy maintenance hangar has the capacity to simultaneously accommodate 10 aircraft. Iberia Maintenance’s Madrid division performs major inspections for all airlines within the IAG Group, the parent company of the Spanish carrier.
Natalia Martínez del Río, Director of Aircraft Services at Iberia Maintenance, said, “Iberia Maintenance has the expertise and knowledge needed to execute this retrofit, and we are honored that Iberia has entrusted us with this project.”
“In La Muñoza, where Iberia Maintenance is headquartered, we have converted passenger aircraft into cargo planes, replaced seats in many aircraft, and were the first company in Spain to install sharklets on an already in-service aircraft. The work is set to commence in early 2025, with the new compartments being installed during scheduled heavy maintenance checks to reduce aircraft downtime,” Martínez del Río added.
