Iberia has received regulatory approval to carry out comprehensive heavy maintenance on Airbus A350 aircraft, significantly expanding the capabilities of its maintenance division.
The authorization was granted by the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) without limitations, allowing Iberia Maintenance to perform the full range of approved heavy maintenance work on the A350.
According to the airline, this is the first time its A350 heavy maintenance authorization has been granted without restrictions from the outset.
Two-year project prepares Iberia for A350 heavy maintenance
The approval follows a project launched at the end of 2024 to prepare Iberia’s Heavy Maintenance division for comprehensive work on the Airbus widebody.
Over approximately two years, the company developed more than 150 individual lines of action covering areas such as engineering, employee training, production, infrastructure, materials and equipment.
The programme also included changes and preparations involving technical documentation, quality procedures, organizational structures and IT systems.
“This milestone marks the culmination of a project launched at the end of 2024 and gives us comprehensive maintenance capabilities for this aircraft,” said Enrique Robledo, Director of Iberia Maintenance.
Robledo said the approval confirms that the division has the equipment, processes, documentation and qualified personnel required to perform A350 maintenance work.
Approval opens new opportunities for Iberia Maintenance
The unrestricted authorization is strategically important beyond maintaining Iberia’s own Airbus A350 fleet.
Iberia Maintenance operates as a maintenance, repair and overhaul business, meaning the expanded certification could also support future work for third-party airline customers operating the type.
The Airbus A350 has become an important part of long-haul fleets worldwide, creating a growing market for heavy maintenance services as aircraft accumulate flight hours and move through their maintenance cycles.
Iberia said the new capability strengthens the position of its maintenance business and creates additional opportunities for future growth.
A350 becomes latest addition to Iberia’s heavy maintenance capabilities
Heavy maintenance involves significantly more extensive inspections and work than routine line maintenance, requiring specialized facilities, equipment, engineering support and certified personnel.
Regulatory authorization is therefore required before an MRO provider can perform specific categories of work on an aircraft type.
AESA’s approval confirms Iberia Maintenance has met the necessary requirements to perform comprehensive heavy maintenance on the A350 without the limitations attached to earlier stages of its capability development.
The certification also supports Iberia’s broader strategy of developing its maintenance operation as a business serving both the airline’s own fleet and the wider aviation industry.
With the two-year preparation programme now completed, Iberia Maintenance can fully incorporate the Airbus A350 into its heavy maintenance operations.
