Press Release

The Green Aviation Forum & Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) 2008 congress, an initiative of the U.S. trade publication Aviation Week, is to be held in Madrid on September 24-25

A total of 134 of the world’s airlines and more than 3,000 people are expected to attend to event to discuss the new challenges facing the industry, new developments in the environmental sphere –including alternative fuels, and the new European regulations—emerging competition in the Middle East, and rising fuel prices.

The event is being organised jointly by Aviation Week and Iberia Airlines.

On Tuesday, September 23^rd, the eve of the two-day meeting, senior airline executives will visit Iberia’s maintenance installations adjoining the Madrid-Barajas airport. The 2.5 million sq. mt. “La Muñoza” site boasts seven hangars with workshops, engine test benches, etc.

The congress agenda includes talks and discussions between representatives of airlines and of airline manufacturers.  On Wednesday, Sept. 24, and 9:45 h, Fernando Conte, Iberia's chairman, will be among the first speakers. And at 11:00 h, at the Iberia stand (Pavilion 5, Stand 2.1.2), the general manager of  Iberia's Maintenance and Engineering Division, Manuel López Aguilar, and the chairman of the Gestair Group, Jesús Macarrón, will hold a joint press conference to discuss a common project.

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Iberia inspects and repairs airframes, engines and components belonging to the Iberia fleet and to those of about 100 other clients from all over the world.

Iberia’s maintenance division is certified by Spanish and international authorities; such as Aviación Civil Española, the European Air Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States. It also holds environmental management certification (ISO 140001:2004) awarded by Spain’s AENOR quality standards bureau.

In 2007, Iberia Maintenance inspected 1,273 aircraft, making 1,002 A checks, 244 C checks, and 27 D checks. It also performed maintenance operations on 145 aircraft engines, 34 auxiliary power units (APUs) and 68,083 components.

Iberia’s maintenance division is the world’s ninth-largest aircraft maintenance service provider, Spain’s second-largest aviation company in terms of revenues and staff, and Spain’s top company in the field of maintenance, high technology, and modification of aircraft.

Today, Iberia is Spain’s leading airline and also market leader on flights between Europe and Latin America. In 2007 it posted operating income of more than 5.52 billion euros and net earnings of 327.6 million, with an Ebitdar of 932 million. Iberia is also distinguished by its social, corporate, and environmental policies. Along with its franchise partner Iberia Regional, it operates some 1,000 flights every day to about 100 destinations. In 2007 Iberia carried 32.5 million passengers. It is a member of the oneworld airline alliance along with American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, JAL, LAN, Malev, Qantas and Royal Jordanian.