Spanish airline Iberia announces voluntary layoffs for nearly 1,000 employees

Spanish airline Iberia, part of the International Airlines Group (IAG), announced on March 12, 2026, a plan for voluntary collective layoffs affecting 996 employees. The proposed staff reduction, known in Spanish labor law as ERE, was officially registered with the General Directorate of Labor of the Community of Madrid. The reduction will affect approximately 9.4% of the carrier's total workforce, which currently numbers 10,568 people. This decision is a response to long-standing demands from trade unions, including the pilots' union Sepla, which had called for the introduction of a voluntary departure mechanism for staff. Iberia, the national airline of Spain founded in 1927 and headquartered in Madrid, has operated as part of the IAG holding company since 2011 following a merger with British Airways. The carrier operates mainly from Madrid-Barajas Airport, focusing on routes between Europe and Latin America. In the past, the company has undergone restructuring processes, including deep staff cuts after the 2008 financial crisis and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced management to seek new personnel management models.

The planned layoffs will be distributed between ground and flight personnel, with the largest reduction affecting technical and administrative staff. The company will part with 753 ground employees, including 305 from the maintenance department, 243 from ground production, and 205 from corporate areas. For flight personnel, the plan involves the elimination of 243 positions, covering 106 pilots and 137 cabin crew members. Negotiations have already begun with a committee composed of management and trade union representatives to determine the final terms of the departures. 996 (people) — maximum number of employees covered by voluntary layoffs Structure of planned layoffs at Iberia: Maintenance (ground): 305, Ground production: 243, Corporate areas: 205, Cabin crew: 137, Pilots: 106

Despite the announced reduction plan, Iberia intends to continue implementing its development strategy for 2025–2030, which involves systematically refreshing and expanding its workforce in other areas. The carrier plans to hire approximately 1,000 new employees annually, aiming to increase production by 3 to 5% per year. This strategy is designed to balance the departure of experienced employees who choose to voluntarily end their careers with new personnel supporting the airline's market expansion. Employment dynamics at Iberia (2026): Number of employees: 10,568 → 9,572 (after ERE); Annual recruitment: no data → approx. 1,000 people; Production growth: no data → 3-5% annually