Iberia Express will operate the return flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. All services carry British Airways codes and members of Iberia Plus programme as well as BA’s Executive Club can earn and redeem Avios when they fly with Iberia Express.

The Birmingham flights are scheduled to offer the best connections from Madrid to another 34 Iberia Group destinations, such as Dakar, Buenos Aires, Havana, Mexico City, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile, and São Paulo.

Madrid is a major destination for business travellers and tourists alike. Famous for its art museums as well as its football teams, Madrid is also a shopper’s paradise, boasting both name-brand shops and independent establishments offering the highest quality for affordable prices. Another attraction is the variety and quality of the city’s many restaurants.

Iberia Express will operate a 177 seat Airbus 320 on the Birmingham service, with Business and Economy sections. Welcoming Iberia Express as it landed at Birmingham Airport was Paul Kehoe, the Airport’s Chief Executive. He said: “Not only is this great news as it increases capacity to Madrid, but Iberia Express is also a oneworld alliance airline and BA codeshare carrier, giving travellers enormous benefits.

“This is our 11th new airline to recently launch so we’re delighted that Iberia Express has also recognised the extensive business and leisure market in our region, and we welcome the strong Iberia brand to our growing network of airlines.”

Flying over to Birmingham on the inaugural flight from Madrid, Iberia Express’ Head of Revenue Management and Network, Trevor Martin, added: “Through the Iberia Group, we are able to offer those in the Midlands region a seamless transit experience through our Madrid Airport hub across Europe and Latin America.

“In addition, Birmingham is the UK’s second largest city and a popular tourism destination, has a thriving business economy and many universities so we are confident that we will see many people from Madrid using the service for business, leisure and to visit friends and family.”