Sep 27, 2018

Welcome to Iberia!

Hello!

We’re adding yet another European flag carrier to our fleet and welcoming the Airbus A320 “Dehesa de Moncayo” into our Aviationtag family!

Back in September 1991, the A320-200 left the Airbus facility in Toulouse bearing Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 224 and was flown to Spain. It was equipped with two CFM56-5 engines from CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and Safran Aircraft Engines.

It was initially registered with Iberia as EC-586 for two months before being changed to EC-FGR in November of that year. Based in Madrid, the “Dehesa de Moncayo” with its 171 seats flew all across Europe and visited European capitals such as London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

In April 2009, after 18 years in the Iberia fleet, the EC-FGR was withdrawn from service and parked at Madrid Barajas for the time being.

Iberia and British Airways merged in 2011, forming the International Airlines Group (IAG). Later that year, IAG created Iberia Express, a new low-cost carrier to operate short- and medium-haul routes from Madrid and provide connecting flights for Iberia’s long-haul network. Iberia Express began operations on 25 March 2012, and our EC-FGR was transferred to Iberia Express.

However, that chapter didn’t last very long - in October 2013, the Airbus A320 was withdrawn from service again, and was finally dismantled and scrapped in Madrid in 2016.

We at Aviationtag bought skin panels featuring the Iberia Express logo, hoping to make some colorful Aviationtags from that aircraft. Unfortunately, the logo wasn’t painted on, but was only applied as foil, which is why the Aviationtags in this series are only available in white. But the good news is that the engraving varies in color, since the old, original Iberia logo is still underneath the white paint. Take a look at this picture to see what we mean:

After 22 years in the air and a few more on the ground, the “Dehesa de Moncayo” now lives on as an Aviationtag. And who knows - maybe there will soon be other Iberia planes in our fleet too - perhaps even in color? Welcome!

And you, have you ever flown on the EC-FGR or any other Iberia aircraft? Share your experience with us.