Domestic priorities

IBERIA’S domestic flights provide 1,852 jobs and contribute €130 million to Spain’s gross domestic product as well as €199 million to tourism. Spurred by France’s decision to eliminate routes that could be covered by train in two and a half hours, the airline, together with consultants PwC, analysed the consequences of introducing a similar measure in Spain.

Economic considerations apart, the study also established that 40 per cent of passengers took domestic flights to connect with another flight.

Eradicating these flights would require between eight and 10 high speed trains, connecting travellers with Spain’s Adolfo Suárez­Madrid Barajas airport on an hourly basis.

“At present there are none,” pointed out Iberia’s Sales director Beatriz Guillén.