- Iberia celebrates the fifth edition of Espacio Iberia from 2 to 27 September at the Official College of Architects of Madrid (Calle Hortaleza, 63)
- Visitors will be able to enjoy the Airbus A350 onboard experience on the ground, discover the new Emerald Lounge and explore the airline’s new destinations with the help of artificial intelligence
- The flight simulator will allow visitors to take off and land in Monterrey, London, Orlando and Tokyo, with a different destination featured each week
- The programme will include tastings, showcookings, gastronomic experiences, concerts, talks and other activities linked to Talento a bordo
- All activities are free of charge and can be booked via the following link.
Espacio Iberia will open its doors in Madrid tomorrow for the fifth consecutive year. Until 27 September, the airline is inviting Madrid residents and visitors to the Official College of Architects of Madrid (COAM), at Calle Hortaleza, 63, to discover and experience some of its latest developments. Attendees will be able to explore the new Emerald Lounge, try out the A350 cabins, discover Iberia’s latest destinations and take part in an extensive programme of gastronomy, culture and entertainment.
One of the main attractions at Espacio Iberia will be the opportunity to discover the new Iberia Emerald Lounge, the premium lounge that the airline will inaugurate on 10 September in Terminal 4 at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. The recreation will feature a 360-degree circular bar and will offer visitors a taste of the new lounge’s gastronomic offering. Different experiences will be available depending on the time of day, including vermouth, coffee, an afternoon social experience and cocktails. The experience will be available to Iberia Club members from Platinum level upwards, as well as customers holding an equivalent oneworld alliance status, and can be booked free of charge.
Visitors will also be able to explore the Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins of the Airbus A350 and take a seat to enjoy, on the ground, an experience similar to an actual flight.
Gastronomy and culture take centre stage at Espacio Iberia
Gastronomy will once again play a prominent role in the programme. Espacio Iberia will host tastings led by expert sommeliers featuring some of the wines and beers served onboard, as well as workshops on the key techniques involved in pouring the perfect beer. In addition, chefs from DO&CO, responsible for preparing most of the meals Iberia serves on its aircraft, will hold masterclasses and showcookings.
The programme also includes experiences dedicated to different destinations across Iberia’s network, designed to bring visitors closer to their culture through gastronomy, folklore and craftsmanship. Depending on the destination, activities will range from tastings to traditional dances and craft demonstrations.
Culture will also feature prominently through Talento a bordo, Iberia’s initiative to support and help raise the profile of Spanish and Spanish-language talent. An exhibition will introduce visitors to the initiative and to the work the company carries out in areas such as fashion, art, music, photography, film, gastronomy and sport.
In addition, throughout September Espacio Iberia will host a programme of Encuentros Talento a bordo, featuring professionals from culture, music, art, gastronomy, communications and sport. The programme will begin on 5 September at 12:00 with chef Ugo Chan, who, together with food communicator Kino Jerez, will share the culinary discoveries from his latest travels in Asia. On 10 September at 18:30, director Rodrigo Sorogoyen will speak with critic Marta Medina about cinema and emotional bonds in connection with his recent film El ser querido, while urban artist Suso33 will create a live intervention on 15 September at 18:30.
On 17 September, two events will take place: at 12:00, designer Jaime Hayón will open up his creative process to the public in a workshop; and at 18:30, Hidrogenesse will present a performative musical talk exploring the books and readings that have influenced their songs. The following day, 18 September at 18:30, Inés Hernand and Nerea Pérez de las Heras will bring their distinctive perspective on current affairs to Espacio Iberia for a conversation on activism, literature and social media.
Fashion will be represented by Palomo Spain, who will speak with stylist Alba Melendo on 19 September at 18:30 about how to travel in style. On 24 September at 18:30, flamenco singer Ángeles Toledano will share insights into her creative process and her distinctive fusion of tradition and the avant-garde. Los Planetas will provide the musical finale to the programme on 26 September at 12:30 with a narrated concert in which Jota and Florent will revisit recent and classic songs while looking back over more than three decades of the band’s career.
For younger visitors, Espacio Iberia will once again host Magic Sundays, where they can learn to draw some of the most beloved characters from Disney Adventure World at Disneyland® Paris or immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe and learn the moves of a true Jedi.
Iberia’s new destinations, brought to life through artificial intelligence
Following two particularly significant years for the launch of new routes, this edition of Espacio Iberia will dedicate a specific area to destinations that have recently joined the airline’s network. An interactive screen will allow visitors to choose from Monterrey, Orlando, Fortaleza, Toronto and Tokyo, take a photograph and, using artificial intelligence, generate a video recreating their image in the selected destination.
A second experience will also use artificial intelligence to help each visitor discover what type of traveller they are. Based on their answers, the system will suggest the destination best suited to their profile and generate a personalised, downloadable guide to help them plan their next trip.
The simulator returns to Espacio Iberia for another edition, giving visitors the opportunity to take the controls of an aircraft and experience take-off or landing in different cities across Iberia’s network, guided by an instructor. Destinations will change each week: Monterrey will feature in the first week; London in the second; Orlando in the third; and Tokyo in the fourth.
Another new feature will offer a different way to learn how Iberia Club works. Through an interactive digital pinball game, participants will discover the various ways to earn Avios through Iberia Club and its partners and will learn the difference between Avios and Elite Points. An Iberia Club account will be required to take part, although visitors who are not yet members will be able to join at Espacio Iberia. Each day, the participant who earns the most Avios in the game will receive a prize of 10,000 Avios, which will be credited to their Iberia Club account.
Customer service, tickets and the Iberia Shop
As in previous editions, Espacio Iberia will have a customer service point to assist with enquiries relating to tickets and flights. There will also be an area where tickets can be purchased through iberia.com with a 10% discount. The same discount will be available from home using the promotional code created for Espacio Iberia.
The Iberia Shop will feature a selection of more than 30 items inspired by some of the company’s most recognisable designs, including model aircraft, T-shirts, socks, notebooks, posters and keyrings.
Espacio Iberia will be open from 2 to 27 September, Monday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 20:00, at the Official College of Architects of Madrid (COAM), located at Calle Hortaleza, 63. The venue is fully accessible and provides wheelchair access, adapted seating and accessible parking with direct access to the space. Admission is free, and activities requiring advance booking can be reserved free of charge via this website.